Trump administration signs $1.5 billion deal with Moderna for COVID-19 vaccine doses

Marking ar investment under ‘Operation Warp Speed’, US President Donald Trump on Aug 11 anunced a $1.5 billion contract with Moderna to secure 100 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine. latest deal brings total American investment into company to $2.48 billion. American pharmaceutical brand Moderna is currently in its third phase of trial for its vaccine candidate mRNA-1273.

"I'm pleased to anunce that we have reached an agreement with Moderna to manufacture and deliver 100 million doses of ir coronavirus vaccine candidate. federal government will own se vaccine doses, we're buying m," Trump said at a White Huse conference.

US, Moderna in deal for 100 million doses

Moderna’s vaccine is being developed in partnership with NIH’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious disease, which is led by Dr Anthony Fauci. Though Fauci has reiterated that a vaccine wasn’t be possible before next year, Trump has pitched for a successful drug before vember 3 Presidential Elections.

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Testifying before US Congress recently, Dr Fauci said that a 75 per cent effective COVID-19 vaccine will do as chances of scientists creating 98 per cent effective vaccine are very slim. Dr Fauci while speaking at Brown University School of Public Health said that even vaccines with effectiveness of more than 50 per cent would be acceptable as re are very slim chances of scientists developing a vaccine with an effectiveness of more than 90 per cent. Dr Fauci said that one must never abandon public health approach and should look at vaccine as a tool that can bring pandemic under control.

United States Food And Drug ministration (FDA) Commissioner Dr Stephen Hahn h also said that organisation will authorise use of any vaccine that is at least 50 per cent effective. Dr Hahn on reportedly July 30 said that after a lot of discussion with experts that have decided to keep 50 per cent as a benchmark, of course hoping to achieve an accuracy of more than that but more than 50 per cent will also do. According to United States Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a 50 per cent effective COVID-19 vaccine will be on par with influenza vaccines.  

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