[akiddoc]

I’ve seen the September timeframe listed for *initial* doses for less than 1% of the population, assuming one of the first candidates works. But the Warp Speed goal is to get lots of doses by January, which would be amazing.

This looks like exactly what we have been hoping for — a program that recognizes the stakes and tries to accelerate solutions. I guess those polls showing the POTUS losing key battleground states have finally motivated him to do something.

I do worry, based on the administration’s track record, that they will f**k this up worse than a giant can of Lysol. The top candidates need to be chosen carefully, based on science and doctors, and not selected the way hydroxychloroquine was promoted. And if this means investing in the top candidates, it could backfire by starving other approaches — we need a lot of shots on goal, as people have said. Also, the goal isn’t just to vaccinate the USA — to stabilize the world and to get the global economy going, America will need to return to its roots as the leader of the free world. And finally, because many of the top vaccine candidates are not in the US — one is in germany, one is in the UK, some are in Asia — how will the administration handle that? If over time the most promising candidates are based in other countries, will he be able to get over his xenophobic mindset and recognize it if it turns out a foreign vaccine is first to work? What if it’s from China? Would he do what’s right and champion the best vaccine no matter where it’s from, or would he promote only “America first” candidates?

I hope so! Overall I’m thrilled by the announcement but would be pleasantly surprised if it doesn’t get screwed up.

There really is no way to know if any vaccine is safe using our usual standards by the end of the year. And really no way to know if it is efficacious.

[akiddoc]

I’ve seen the September timeframe listed for *initial* doses for less than 1% of the population, assuming one of the first candidates works. But the Warp Speed goal is to get lots of doses by January, which would be amazing.

This looks like exactly what we have been hoping for — a program that recognizes the stakes and tries to accelerate solutions. I guess those polls showing the POTUS losing key battleground states have finally motivated him to do something.

I do worry, based on the administration’s track record, that they will f**k this up worse than a giant can of Lysol. The top candidates need to be chosen carefully, based on science and doctors, and not selected the way hydroxychloroquine was promoted. And if this means investing in the top candidates, it could backfire by starving other approaches — we need a lot of shots on goal, as people have said. Also, the goal isn’t just to vaccinate the USA — to stabilize the world and to get the global economy going, America will need to return to its roots as the leader of the free world. And finally, because many of the top vaccine candidates are not in the US — one is in germany, one is in the UK, some are in Asia — how will the administration handle that? If over time the most promising candidates are based in other countries, will he be able to get over his xenophobic mindset and recognize it if it turns out a foreign vaccine is first to work? What if it’s from China? Would he do what’s right and champion the best vaccine no matter where it’s from, or would he promote only “America first” candidates?

I hope so! Overall I’m thrilled by the announcement but would be pleasantly surprised if it doesn’t get screwed up.

There really is no way to know if any vaccine is safe using our usual standards by the end of the year. And really no way to know if it is efficacious.