West Coast Covid-19 Pact: States Vow To Review Vaccine Before Distribution

Topline

Amid concerns President Donald Trump is politicizing vaccine development, four west coast states have formed a coalition to independently review a potential coronavirus vaccine before distribution.

Key Facts

Crucial Quote

“Any Covid vaccine must be guided by the expertise of scientists and medical professionals and that’s just what this workgroup will do,” said Washington Governor Jay Inslee in a statement.

Key Background

 In September, several pharmaceutical companies pledged to submit a vaccine for FDA approval only after the appropriate trials. The extraordinary joint statement was made after Trump promised a vaccine before the November election, stirring doubts from Democrats that the president was pressuring officials to rush the vaccine process to score political points. CDC Director Robert Redfield and National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Anthony Fauci have said a vaccine won’t be widely available to the public until the spring or summer of 2021.

Surprising Fact

The so-called “Western States Pact” already worked together in April to create a shared framework for reopening, though each state was free to come up with their own specific reopening plan.

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