Trump "Expect to Secure COVID-19 Vaccine for Nationwide Vaccination by April Next Year"

"Securing 100 Million Doses by Year-End... Distribution to Start Within 24 Hours Upon Approval"
CDC Reverts COVID-19 Testing Guidelines After Controversy

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] U.S. President Donald Trump on the 18th (local time) predicted that a COVID-19 vaccine capable of vaccinating all Americans could be secured by April next year.

President Trump said at a White House press briefing that there had been historic progress in three vaccines undergoing final-stage development and clinical trials, adding, "We will manufacture at least 100 million doses of the vaccine by the end of the year, and possibly much more."

He also stated, "Hundreds of millions of doses will be available each month," and "We expect to secure enough vaccines for all Americans by April next year."

President Trump anticipated that once the vaccine receives approval for use, the military would be mobilized to begin distribution within 24 hours.

Meanwhile, on the same day, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) withdrew the relaxation of COVID-19 testing criteria. The CDC changed the testing guideline from "If you have been in close contact for at least 15 minutes with someone infected with COVID-19, you do not necessarily need to get tested unless you are high-risk or a healthcare worker, even if you have no symptoms," back to "You need to get tested." This effectively reinstated the guideline requiring testing even without symptoms.

The CDC faced backlash from the medical and scientific communities after reversing the previous recommendation in the new testing guideline released on the 17th of last month, which had advised testing if one had close contact with a COVID-19 patient or suspected case even without symptoms.