
Racing at warp speed
Over the last several months, the coronavirus pandemic has wreaked unprecedented havoc on the world.
Indeed, no country has been spared from the ugly wrath inflicted by this mysterious and deadly invisible enemy. In response to this common adversary, the world’s best scientists and researchers, for the first time in decades, are all laser focused on solving the same problem: finding a cure and discovering a vaccine for COVID-19. Amid this race, the United States is rapidly covering ground and running lengths ahead of the rest of the world.
The reason that America remains in the leading position is thanks to Operation Warp Speed (OWS), which was initiated in mid-May by President Donald Trump. This historic undertaking is a partnership between relevant federal agencies – including the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Defense – and the private sector that’s allowing the United States to race toward a safe and effective vaccine in a matter of months instead of years.
For reference, while the fastest a vaccine has been discovered and deployed is four years, the vaccine development process usually takes at least 10-15 years.
The accelerated timeline made possible by OWS is due to smart adaptations to the usual process. Notably, OWS allows promising vaccine candidates to undergo clinical trials at the same time as regulatory approval and preparation for mass production. Moreover, OWS has already resulted in the pre-purchase of hundreds of millions of doses. That means that once a vaccine candidate is deemed safe and effective, it can be distributed almost immediately. While our talented scientists and researchers continue to work around the clock, at least three vaccine candidates have already reached the final stage of testing. If one of those options proves successful, delivery of a vaccine could be just a few months away. This is good news for the American people. Certainly, to slow the spread of coronavirus and eliminate it altogether, we must support efforts to find treatments, therapeutics and ultimately, a vaccine. Throughout this coronavirus crisis, I am encouraged this has been a top priority for the Trump Administration.Dr. Anthony Fauci praised the Navajo Nation for its #Coronavirus response efforts and discussed #COVID19 vaccine concerns with tribal leaders in a town hall this week. Story by Mary Annette Pember @mapember #DrFauci https://t.co/QYW5MAA7Oz
— indianz.com (@indianz) September 23, 2020

Tom Cole, a citizen of the Chickasaw Nation, is serving
his eighth term in Congress as the elected representative of Oklahoma’s 4th
Congressional District. He is recognized as an advocate for taxpayers and small
business, a proponent for a strong national defense and a leader in promoting
biomedical research. He is considered the foremost expert in the House on issues
dealing with Native Americans and tribal governments. He and his wife, Ellen,
have one son, Mason, and reside in Moore, Oklahoma.
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