But public health officials are concerned that the federal government’s push to release a vaccine before the November election is being driven by political considerations.
Maine officials say they have been preparing to distribute a COVID-19 vaccine and would be ready to do so if the federal government is able to deliver one by late October or early November. The U. S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has told states to prepare for such a scenario, raising questions about whether political considerations are behind the effort to distribute the vaccine before the election. Public health experts are sounding the alarm that the vaccine is being rushed and could be pressured into distribution before it’s ready by the Trump administration, ostensibly to boost the president’s chances in the Nov.3 election against former Vice President Joe Biden. At least three vaccines are currently in late-stage trials. Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, told Kaiser Health News this week that if evidence is “overwhelming” in favor of a vaccine candidate, it’s possible that a late-stage trial could be halted early and safely put into production. Regardless of when the vaccine is shipped to states, Dr. Nirav Shah, Maine CDC director, said the state needs to be ready for a vaccine, and the agency has been preparing since April.
