Stimulus deal in accessibility after Fed compromise; Moderna vaccine shipping coming soon

Vivek Murthy, who was elected by President Joe Biden to become the 21st general surgeon, urged caution on the coronavirus vaccine timeline, saying it was more likely to reach a major outbreak before mid-term. summer or early fall.

“If all goes well, we may see a situation where people in lower-risk areas get this vaccine before the end of spring, but it really needed everything nothing goes according to the schedule, “Murthy told NBC on Sunday” Meet the Media. “

“I think it’s more reasonable to assume that it could be closer to mid-summer or early fall when the vaccine can make its way to the general public. We want to be optimistic but we also want to be careful, “said Murthy.

The first pictures of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine are given to face-to-face health care workers and long-term care residents, who are among the most vulnerable to the disease. Meanwhile, after receiving approval for emergency use from the FDA, Moderna is preparing to phase out the first batch of vaccine doses.

– Yun Li

Dr Moncef Slaoui, chief adviser to Operation Warp Speed, addressed the group’s mistake of sending fewer than expected Covid-19 vaccine doses to some states and eradicating the problem at a weak time in which the U.S. Food and Drug Administration must obtain a certificate of analysis for each set of vaccines before they are administered.

“We have all made a mistake in assuming that the vaccine that has been released and released is already available for disposal, when in fact there is a two-day delay. between the time we generate a lot of data showing that this vaccine is safe and correct, and the time we take it away, “Slaoui told CNN” State of the Union “Sunday morning.

“That weak period has led to differences in the plan and what has actually been done,” Slaoui continued. “We have addressed that and are doing what we do every day.”

Slaoui’s explanation comes one day after the Chief Operating Officer of Operation Warp Speed ​​Gen. Gustave Perna apologized again for reduced delivery of the Pfizer vaccine in at least 14 states.

The FDA requires a certification certificate, which includes quality control test results, for each cycle of Pfizer vaccines at least 48 hours prior to release.

Operation Warp Speed ​​is set to roll out 5.9 million doses of the Moderna vaccine and 2 million doses of Pfizer vaccine across the U.S. on Monday, Slaoui said.

“We are increasing communication with the regulators to ensure that mistakes do not happen,” Slaoui said. “We work and learn from our mistakes every day.”

– Emma Newburger

Former surgeon Vivek Murthy said the new strain of coronavirus declared by the UK may not be more lethal and the vaccines could prevent it.

Murthy was thanked by President Joe Biden for becoming the 21st general surgeon.

“While it may seem easier to spread, we still don’t have evidence that this is a more deadly virus for someone who gets it,” Murthy said Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “There is no reason to believe that the vaccines that have been developed will not be effective against this virus as well.”

England’s chief medical officer announced on Saturday that the UK has identified a new strain of coronavirus that can “spread faster” than previous strains of the virus.

“The bottom line is that if you are at home and you are hearing this news, it does not change what we do in terms of warning as individuals who may be exposed to the virus. reduce this, “Murthy said. “It turns out that sheltering, maintaining physical speed and washing our hands … these are still the pillars to stop Covid ‘s spread.”

– Yun Li

Austria, the Netherlands, Belgium and Italy are suspending flights from the UK, officials from those countries announced Sunday, amid fears of a new outbreak of the coronavirus sweeping London and the south England which is 70% more mobile than the current series.

German authorities have said they are considering “real options” for stopping flights from the UK but have not announced specific actions, while French media organizations have suggested that France also suspended flights.

The Dutch are banning UK flights for at least the rest of the year, while Belgium is banning a 24-hour flight stop starting at midnight as well as ‘cut rail links with the country, which includes the Eurostar. The moves come after UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson put London and surrounding areas into a new Tier 4 restriction, ordering a tougher closure this Christmas.

—Natasha Turak

Moderna vaccine doses are currently being packed with shipping to begin later today from UPS and McKesson facilities.

Vaccine doses will go to sites across all 50 states this week. The first shipments are expected to arrive on Monday, with the first vaccination using the image occurring on the same day.

The release of the Moderna vaccine comes after Operation Warp Speed ​​sent a 2.9 million dose of Pfizer image to sites nationwide last week, according to U.S. officials.

The U.S. government has dispensed 7.9 million doses of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines for distribution to date.

– Spencer Kimball

The House of Representatives will meet at noon today with voting to begin no earlier than 1pm ET, according to House Majority Director Steny Hoyer.

The Senate is expected to reconvene at 1pm. ET. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said both chambers could vote on Covid’s stimulus today unless talks hit another snag.

However, it is not entirely clear at this stage who the House will vote for. While senior lawyers appear to be coming close to a deal on Covid’s promotion, they still don’t have an agreement in hand.

Congress released emergency funding Friday to keep the government open through Sunday. If they do not provide new funding before 12:01 am ET Monday, the government will close.

If stimulus talks hit a snag again, the House could vote on another ongoing resolution to fund the government.

– Spencer Kimball

Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., Said a fight over the Federal Reserve’s borrowing powers that upheld a broader deal had an impact on Covid’s promotion.

While the agreement is uncertain and the language of negotiation is being finalized, a spokesman for Toomey said Republicans had achieved all four of their goals.

“This agreement eliminates more than $ 429 billion in unused CARES Act funds; it certainly expires the CARES Act loan facilities by December 31, 2020; have resumed these facilities; and prevented them from being duplicated without a transport permit, “said Toomey spokesman Steve Kelly.

“This agreement will preserve Fed’s independence and prevent Democrats from removing these programs for political and social policy reasons,” Kelly said.

A senior Democrat supporter told NBC News that “Toomey’s impasse is over.”

—Spencer Kimball

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Congress could overturn a stimulus deal Sunday after senior lawmakers reached a compromise in the fight over the Federal Reserve’s borrowing powers.

Although lawyers do not yet have a contract, Schumer said they were becoming “very close.” The move toward a contract was halted after Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., including an end to the Federal Reserve’s emergency lending powers.

Schumer told reporters late Saturday that the House and Senate could pass Covid’s incentive bill Sunday “if things continue this way and nothing gets in the way.”

– Spencer Kimball