Three other western states will be joining California in independently reviewing the safety of a coronavirus vaccine once it is approved by the FDA.
Word came on Tuesday that Oregon, Nevada, and Washington would be joining the Golden State’s COVID-19 Scientific Safety Review Workgroup.
In announcing the creation of the effort last week, California Governor Gavin Newsom said, “California has led with science and data through the COVID pandemic, and when a vaccine becomes available, we will leverage our scientific expertise to verify its safety to give everyone the confidence they need to make important decisions regarding the health of their families.”
A statement from the Nevada Governor’s office read, “The goal is to not have this independent review cause any delay in getting a safe vaccine to the residents in these Western states.”
Concerns about the vaccine have risen in part due to differing statements about when a vaccine for the virus will become available. President Trump has projected an earlier timeline for the release than many public health experts. Many Democrats have professed concern that the release of the vaccine may be politicized in order to give the president an advantage in the upcoming election.
There are three vaccines currently in the late stages of clinical trials in the United States. Estimates between public health experts are varied as to when exactly a vaccine will become available, but the consensus seems to be that the vaccine will not be widely distributed for several months. Dr. Moncef Slaoui, the head of Operation Warp Speed, an initiative created by the White House to speed up the creation of a coronavirus vaccine, estimates that while about 20 million to 30 million doses may be ready by the end of the year, the vaccine won’t have reached wider implementation until the middle of next year.
