US health officials have asked states to prepare for the large-scale distribution of a vaccine against the coronavirus by early November, before the presidential election.

The US Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) "urgently demand" that states do what is necessary so that distribution centers for a future vaccine can be "fully operational by November 1, 2020," a wrote their director Robert Redfield, in a letter sent to the States last week.

The boss of the CDC mentions in particular the lifting of administrative restrictions, or the issuance of permits and licenses.

Health authorities "are rapidly preparing for the implementation of a large-scale distribution of Covid-19 vaccines in the fall of 2020," said Robert Redfield.

President Donald Trump, candidate for reelection on November 3, said last week that the United States will have a vaccine "this year".

Win time

While several vaccines are currently in clinical trials, it is not certain that one of them will be effective and safe, but the authorities are already preparing a possible distribution in order to save precious time. .

A document, published by the New York Times and sent to local health officials the same day as the CDC boss's letter, outlines three scenarios depending on the progress of an "A vaccine" and a "B vaccine" .

These seem to correspond to vaccines developed by Pfizer and Moderna, according to the American daily.

The United States has pre-ordered millions of doses from these companies.

“The scenarios described below should be used by states and local jurisdictions to develop an operational plan for early vaccination against Covid-19 when vaccine supplies will be limited,” the document explains.

In particular, the conditions necessary for their storage are detailed, as well as the populations that must be vaccinated as a priority, namely in particular the nursing staff.

With AFP

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