Fauci testifies about vaccine's possible availability, HCQ & Trump's COVID response

top infectious disease expert of United States, Dr. Anthony S Fauci along with or top health officials appeared before a House panel on Friday investigating nation's response to pandemic. Even as United States is reporting nearly 65,000 new COVID-19 infections a day with more than 4 million Americans infected and death toll is nearing 150,000, Fauci seemed to be optimistic while testifying in front of Congress about prospects of a COVID-19 vaccine, faster testing and getting virus under control. 

RE | Dr Fauci Makes Big Statement On India's Role In Covid Vaccine Search; Speaks At ICMR Event

RE | Trump Says 'body Likes Me' As Anthony Fauci's Approval Rating Rises

Important takeaways from Fauci's testimony

1. Vaccine to be rey by end of 2020

Fauci, who hes National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said he was “cautiously optimistic” that a vaccine would be rey by end of this year and would be widely distributed throughout 2021.

“re's never a guarantee that you're going to get a safe and effective vaccine, but from everything we've seen w in animal data, as well as early human data, we feel cautiously optimistic that we will have a vaccine by end of this year and as we go into 2021,” Fauci said as Moderna's vaccine enters phase three trial which will examine vaccine's safety and effectiveness on humans. He also apprised about six or vaccines including five or six that federal government is involved with while ding that over 2,50,000 people are rey to participate in vaccine trials.

2. Delayed testing for hoped situation improves

Fauci observed that testings are delayed due to heavy pressure on commercial laboratories due to increased demand as outbreak spres. He ted that delayed testings increase chances of community spre while stating that about 75 percent of test results are coming back within five days, 

“If you have to wait multiple days for result of a test, and test is done in context of contact tracing, that in many respects obviates whole purpose of doing it. Because if you have to wait that long, a person has alrey been out in community in that period of time,” he opined.

 m. Brett Giroir, health official leing Trump ministration’s testing strategy, said a faster turnaround time for all test results is t currently possible, however, he ded that in future, people will t require to be dependent on labs for testings as point-of-care tests ahe will t need samples to be sent to labs and that y would give results in about 15 minutes.

3. Fauci dismisses HCQ for COVID-19 treatment 

Fauci termed study that showed Hydrochloroquine as effective in curing COVID, as "flawed".  study was ncontrolled and retrospective and patients were ministered corticosteroids which have capacity to reduce deaths in COVID-19 patients hence it is t appropriate to say HCQ is effective, Fauci said.

“That study is a flawed study,” Fauci said.

4. Fauci backs Trump's decision to ban Chinese travellers

Steve Scalise of Louisiana, top Republican on committee, asked wher Fauci agreed to some of decisions me by US President Donald Trump, including ban Chinese travellers.

“Do you agree with that decision? Do you think that decision saved lives?” Scalise asked.

“Yes I do,” Fauci replied.   

RE | Fauci: Vaccine Development Moving At Rapid Speed

RE | Fauci Optimistic About COVID-19 Vaccine Availability