VP Pence Issues Remarks at Operation Warp Speed Vaccine Summit
THE VICE PRESIDENT: Well, thank you all very much. Paul, thank you for those kind words and for your tireless work at
To other members of the
As you heard today over the last several hours, thanks to the leadership of President
From the first day the President stood up the
But before I reflect on all that we've heard today and the extraordinary professionalism and cooperation that you've witnessed, I want to extend my sympathies to the families that may be looking on at this very hour -- families that have lost loved ones over the course of this year. Even as we enter a time of great promise in this country, I want families that have lost loved ones and those that are still struggling in the midst of this pandemic to know there's not a day gone by that you haven't been on the hearts of all of us working at every level, and we will never forget your families or your loved ones as we hasten the day that we put this pandemic in the past.
Because of the efforts of all of those you've heard from today and, frankly, countless others, we literally are on track to distribute tens of millions of doses of the coronavirus vaccine before the end of this month.
We're about to make history. And together, we're going to continue to save lives across this country with the approval of the first coronavirus vaccine. We believe it is likely within days. As I said, we are one step closer to the day that, as a people, we will put this pandemic in the past and, as the President said from this very podium today, that America will continue to do our part to help families and peoples around the world.
From the very beginning, I hope it is evident to all of you that
I must tell you, having been working every single day over the last 10 months toward this objective: As an American, as your Vice President, as the head of the
After today's summit, I suspect more people than ever around the country will look at the progress that we are about to fulfill in Operation Warp Speed, and they will say, as I have said before, "Only in America." (Applause.)
We are honored to have all of you to participate -- and all of you looking on -- to participate in this vaccine summit. The President wanted to convene this gathering to inform the American people of the progress that we've made in Operation Warp Speed, but also to give credit where credit is due. Operation Warp Speed is a modern American miracle, but it's an accomplishment of all of the American people.
It's amazing to think that the average development timeline for a vaccine can take 8 to 12 years. But as you heard today, we're on track to accomplish a safe and effective coronavirus vaccine in 8 to 12 months.
Before Operation Warp Speed, the fastest prior vaccine development in
And the dates speak for themselves.
But it would be in May of this year that the President launched Operation Warp Speed that you have heard in great detail today. The President said then that they were looking to get a vaccine by the end of the year. But in August,
The President's promise was met with considerable skepticism not only in the scientific community, but across the public debate. But as we stand here today and we celebrate what we believe is the likely approval of two safe and effective coronavirus vaccines, the American people deserve to know that there are actually four vaccine candidates in large, phase three clinical trials as we speak.
Operation Warp Speed, we believe, is about to commence, it's about to save lives, and it will continue to expand, to the benefit of the American people and the world. (Applause.)
We're moving at record speed, but the American people can be confident that while -- while we have cut red tape, we've cut no corners; and our standards for safety and effectiveness are just as rigorous as they have ever been. And the American people can be encouraged -- those that will have opportunities in this initial phase to take the vaccine can be confident that the approval has ensured that this vaccine is not just effective, but is safe.
And as you heard today as well, beyond the development of this extraordinary American medical miracle, that once the vaccine is approved, we are in a position, with the great work of
But ultimately, the distri- -- the decision about where the vaccines are distributed is up to governors. And that's why the final panel today was so important. It's important for the American people to know that from very early on, we have operated against the philosophy that this is a -- this is a national response to this pandemic that is federally supported but state managed and locally executed. And we've deferred, in this instance, as we have throughout this pandemic, to the judgment of governors all across the nation -- the states and the territories of this country -- who are best equipped to know the point of the need in their state. And how about another round of applause for the governors that you heard from today? We're truly grateful. (Applause.)
Operation Warp Speed, like all the we have done, has not just been a whole-of-government approach at every level, but it is, as I said, a whole-of-America approach. And you -- you heard today from some of the nation's top logistics and shipping companies -- one of which I witnessed firsthand visiting
But FedEx,
So how about a big round of applause for those great logistics companies that are about to partner for the health of the American people? (Applause.)
As you also heard, we've called on companies like CVS and Walgreens to be able to deliver and administer vaccines. And we actually -- it's remarkable. I heard this at the
But Warp Speed -- I want to say, as I close -- is really just emblematic of -- of the approach that
It's amazing to think: When I was tapped to lead the
We marshalled the full power of the American economy early on, not just in this project, but in the development of PPE and equipment. We literally saw to the manufacture and delivery of billions of medical supplies.
And while we see cases rising and hospitalization rising across the country, with our team on the ground here working closely with governors, we literally are able to track hospital capacity on a hospital-by-hospital basis, and we're going to continue to work around the clock to make sure our hospitals and our healthcare workers have the PPE and supplies they need to give any American family the same level of care that we'd want a member of our family to have. (Applause.)
The story of therapeutics is also an extraordinary one. I remember, in early March, when we gathered all the great research companies together in the
And as we stand here today, the FDA has literally approved dozens and dozens of lifesaving therapeutics. And I'm actually told that we've already delivered 185,000 doses of therapeutics to coronavirus patients across America. It's extraordinary. (Applause.)
And the truth is, even as we see cases rising around the country and hospitalizations rising, I want the American people to know that we've never been better prepared to combat the coronavirus than we are today. This is a time of great promise and hope for the American people.
But, that being said, with the rising cases across America, it's also a time of renewed vigilance. As we close today what is, I know, for all of us gathered here and all of those looking on, a time of great promise, a time of great encouragement, the American people should know that we all still have work to do -- that every single one of us has a role to play. With cases rising and hospitalizations rising in virtually every jurisdiction around America, it's time once again to redouble our efforts to put the health of our families, our neighbors, and our communities first.
And we all know what to do. The American people demonstrated, in the early days of March and April, that we know how to slow the spread. We know how to flatten the curve. We know how to save lives. Practice good hygiene. Wash your hands. Practice social distancing or wear a mask when it's not possible or whenever local authorities indicate that it's appropriate. It's the way that we got through the early days of this pandemic and we flattened the curve, saved lives. It's the way we got through the
The President often says -- and it's more obvious today than maybe ever before -- we are rounding the corner. We can see the light at the end of the tunnel. But to reach the end of the tunnel and to save American lives, we just need to redouble our efforts. We have a ways to go, America.
So I just want to encourage you all to be patient in the days ahead. My wife and I ran a marathon -- about 10 years ago. (Laughter.) And the records in that marathon were all intact when we finished. And I will tell you, they told us, when we were running, that the last five miles of a marathon are the toughest. You come around that corner and -- after the 21st mile -- and you're absolutely convinced that you never felt better in your life. You can see the finish line, and then your legs start to tighten up.
You know, the truth of the matter is, we've been running a marathon in this country, haven't we? But I want the American people know the finish line is around the corner. We could see it from here. And by -- by the spring, we anticipate -- or shortly thereafter -- we'll have a -- what we believe will be multiple safe and effective coronavirus vaccines for every American that wants one.
But we got to get there. And so I want to encourage you from the bottom of my heart to continue to be diligent to put your health, your family's health, and your community's health first.
I can't help but think of that ancient verse that says, "Do not grow weary in well doing, for, in the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." Now's the time for us to stay focused, be encouraged. Because the extraordinary innovation, the dedication of health officials at every level, these great research companies, our extraordinary private partners -- we are literally on the cusp of putting the coronavirus in the past.
We are coming very close in the days ahead, I believe, to the beginning of the end of the coronavirus pandemic in America. But it -- but it will yet be months to go. We have miles to go before we sleep. And so we encourage you all to continue to do your part.
But I have every confidence that with the dedication of all the officials represented here so well at every level; with programs like Operation Warp Speed; with the dedication of our healthcare workers and our first responders, of researchers around the country; and with the cooperation of the American people, we'll get through this. I have every confidence. I have faith that with your help and with God's grace, we will heal our land, and we will heal our land together.
Thank you all very much. Thank you for being a part of this important summit. And God bless you all. (Applause.)
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