Operation Warp Speed Chief Predicts 'Significant Decrease' in Deaths Among Seniors by End of January

The Washington Post reports that Operation Warp Speed chief science adviser Moncef Slaoui has forecast a "significant decrease" in deaths among U.S. seniors from the coronavirus by the end of January, as high-risk populations receive vaccinations. He said he expects independent advisers to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to recommend emergency authorization for the vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech when the panel meets on Thursday, and to issue the authorization shortly afterward. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said that if the FDA panel recommends authorization of the Pfizer vaccine later this week, people could start getting shots "within days." But even with FDA authorization, it will be months before vaccinations have any effect on the pandemic. Last week a federal advisory panel recommended that the first vaccine doses be administered to an estimated 21 million healthcare workers and 3 million residents and staff in long-term care communities. On CBS News's "Face the Nation," Slaoui suggested vaccinations may start to have an effect on infection counts for "the most susceptible people" in January and February. Meanwhile, Deborah Birx, coordinator of the White House coronavirus task force, recommended that people not become complacent from news of a coming vaccine. "If you have loved ones that you want to protect, you have to follow safety guidelines now," she said.