Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Pandemic's End In A Year? Moderna CEO Says Enough Vaccine Will Be Available
The Washington Post: Moderna’s Chief Expects Enough Vaccines For Everyone By Next Year. Much Of The World Is Still Waiting.
Moderna’s chief executive says that the coronavirus pandemic could be over in a year and that a boost in production will mean enough vaccines for “everyone on this Earth” by then. More booster shots should be available, too, to some extent, and even babies will be able to get vaccines, Stéphane Bancel told a Swiss newspaper in an interview published Thursday. Asked whether that could spell “a return to normal” next year, he replied: “As of today, in a year, I assume.” (Francis, 9/23)
Reuters: Moderna Chief Executive Sees Pandemic Over In A Year - Newspaper
"If you look at the industry-wide expansion of production capacities over the past six months, enough doses should be available by the middle of next year so that everyone on this earth can be vaccinated. Boosters should also be possible to the extent required," he told the newspaper in an interview. Vaccinations would soon be available even for infants, he said. (9/23)
Newsweek: Only 16 Countries Have Vaccinated 70 Percent Of Population, Minimum For COVID Herd Immunity
COVID-19 vaccinations are believed to be key to ending the pandemic but only 32 percent of the world has been fully vaccinated and reaching global herd immunity could be eight months away. The historic speed at which COVID-19 vaccines were developed was met with a slow global vaccination effort, partially fueled by vaccine inequity. The World Health Organization has long stressed the need for a global approach to vaccinations, warning that significant portions of unvaccinated people in low and middle-income countries will perpetuate the pandemic, but vaccine hesitancy has left even high-income countries struggling to inoculate large swaths of their populations. (Fink, 9/23)
Also —
Axios: Generic Drug Companies Want To Help Make The COVID-19 Vaccines
Generic drug companies have asked Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson to license their COVID-19 vaccine technology to help increase global production, but so far the vaccine makers have given them the cold shoulder. Other companies are saying they have extra capacity to make more vaccines. Not using that extra capacity could prolong the pandemic throughout the world. (Herman, 9/24)
Axios: Top Science Advisers Urge Governments To Prepare Now For Next Pandemics
Now is a crucial time to lay the groundwork to quash future threats from pathogens, top science advisers in the U.S. and U.K. said this week. Governments, industries and organizations are trying to bolster early warning systems, improve manufacturing supply chains for vaccines and treatments, and build infrastructure to be able to better contain future outbreaks — all while the current pandemic is still raging. (Snyder, 9/23)
