The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said states should have plans in place to distribute a COVID-19 vaccine by October. Former Director of the Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response at the CDC Dr. Ali Khan said it’s a complicated process for states to plan.
“We know during the 2009 influenza outbreak that it took a very long time to make sure that Americans had a vaccine available to them. The vaccine was available in December and it was before April that we were able to vaccinate 25% of Americans," Khan said. "So I think CDC is appropriately reaching out to states and saying, 'Please get your plans ready.'”
Dr. Khan is also dean of the College of Public Health at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. His comments came during an interview on NPR’s Morning Edition.
He said he didn't believe a vaccine will be ready by October.