Covid Vaccine Candidates Have No Known Serious Side Effects, Says Operation Warp Speed Head

Topline

With polling showing some Americans lack of confidence in the safety of coronavirus vaccines that are on the verge of being approved, the head of the White House’s program to accelerate vaccine development, Operation Warp Speed, said Sunday that his team knows the side effects of both candidates currently under consideration and is “very confident” that they are both effective and safe in the long-term.

Key Facts

Crucial Quote 

“We know from the hundreds of thousands of subjects that have been studied with other vaccines over the past 30 or 40 years, that most serious adverse events with vaccines happen within, let’s say, a month and a half to two months after people completed their immunization,” said Slaoui, who previously served as the head of GlaxoSmithKline’s vaccines department. “We have that observation with these vaccines, there are no such serious side effects” 

Key Background 

Public confidence in the vaccine appears to be on the rise. In September, a Gallup poll found that 50% of those surveyed said they would not take the vaccine. The number has decreased in the months that followed, with a survey of public opinion during the period of Oct. 19 through Nov. 1 showing just 42% of Americans said they wouldn’t take the injection. A Pew Research Center poll released around the same time offered a less rosy prediction of just 51% of adults indicating willingness to take the antidote. 

What To Watch For 

Both vaccine candidates are currently under review by the Food and Drug Administration. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar suggested that approval may be imminent, saying Sunday that he expects authorization to come “within days.” Slaoui said that he’s anticipating a “positive decision” from the FDA based on the data he’s seen. 

Further Reading 

“Life Will Start Getting ‘Back To Normal’ In April Or May, Operation Warp Speed Head Projects” (Forbes)

“Boris Johnson May Take Newly Approved Covid Vaccine Live On TV” (Forbes)

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