Surprising Scientists, Donald Trump Says A Vaccine Will Be Available By End Of Year

Donald Trump held a media event in the Rose Garden Friday afternoon talk about Operation Warp Speed. It’s a term he is using to signify fast-tracking a vaccine. Trump noted, “We’re looking to get it by the end of the year if we can, maybe before.” And he trotted out the Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, who made it clear this was about “winning.”

The problem is no one was able to offer proof that a vaccine can be safely executed at “warp speed.” As NBC News reports, “experts say that the development, testing and production of a vaccine for the public is still at least 12 to 18 months off, and that anything less would be a medical miracle.”

Trump also said, “I want to make one thing clear: Vaccine or no vaccine, we’re back. And, we are starting the process. In many cases, they don’t have vaccines and a virus or a flu comes and you fight through it.”

Currently more than 86,000 Americans have died from COVID-19 and more than 1.4 million have tested positive.  The deaths and infections began in the United States just three months ago.