Fauci 'cautiously optimistic' for year end vaccine

The nation's top infectious disease specialist, Dr. Anthony Fauci, says he is "cautiously optimistic" the U.S. will have a safe and effective vaccine available by the end of November or beginning of December.

Speaking during an interview with the Associated Press, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases said that the federal government has already "pre-ordered to be produced large numbers of doses."  So he said some Americans, like healthcare workers, would likely be able to start getting the vaccine by January 2021.

While that is a historically quick timeline for vaccine production, it contradicts statements from President Donald Trump and other members of his administration that a vaccine will be available as early as this month.

Fauci said he's concerned about public perception relating to the virus after so much politicization of the issue during this election cycle.  And he hopes it doesn't dissuade Americans from wanting to get vaccinated.

"That would be really tragic if there were a vaccine that was safe and effective that could save lives and people, because of their lack of trust in authority, would not want to take the vaccine. That would be an unfortunate situation," he said.

Fauci said Americans should rest assured the vaccine development and production process will be transparent and driven entirely by science, not politics.

"The chances of there being secret hankie panky are almost zero because everything is going to be transparent," Fauci insisted.

Asked if he would be confident enough to get vaccinated in January, should it be available, Fauci said yes.

"If I saw the data, which I likely will, and I was satisfied with the decision of the FDA, which I think I will be because it's going to be made by career scientists, I would without hesitation take the vaccine and recommend to my family to take the vaccine," he said.