USA — According to recent reports, the U.S. government has taken the initiative to invest more than US$5 billion into a new program aimed at accelerating the development of novel Covid-19 vaccines and treatments.
This new project, aptly named Project Next Gen, follows a similar approach to that of Operation Warp Speed, which successfully created and supplied vaccines to Covid-19 patients in 2020 by partnering with private and public sectors to facilitate the rapid development of new vaccines.
The Washington Post has disclosed that Project Next Gen aims to bolster the country’s defenses against the rapidly mutating virus and any potential future coronaviruses.
Health experts have expressed their support for the new program, as current vaccines may not be as effective against future virus threats.
In light of this, White House coronavirus coordinator Ashish Jha has stated that “It’s been very clear to us that the market on this is moving very slowly. There’s a lot that government can do, the administration can do, to speed up those tools…for the American people.”
The program is expected to focus on the development of long-lasting monoclonal antibodies and accelerate the creation of vaccines that produce mucosal immunity to mitigate the risks of transmission and infection.
Additionally, it aims to develop more comprehensive vaccines that protect against new SARS-CoV-2 variants and other coronaviruses.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) preparedness and response assistant secretary, Dawn O’Connell, recently provided an update on the progress of Project Next Gen.
She announced that the lab work for the program is underway, and the government has initiated the process of identifying prospective partners in the private sector.
O’Connell stated, “We’ve begun surveying the landscape out there – assessing what vaccine candidates are available, moving through what exciting technologies are there.”
Her comments suggest that the program is still in its preliminary stages and that extensive research is underway to identify the most promising vaccine candidates and technologies to pursue.
The White House has directed the HHS to allocate US$5bn to support the development of Project Next Gen.
This investment will come from funds allocated for coronavirus testing and other priorities. It highlights the government’s commitment to the program and its desire to prioritize the development of new vaccines and treatments to combat Covid-19 and other potential pandemics.
Interestingly, the program was initially named Project Covid Shield but has since been rebranded as Project Next Gen to align better with its focus on the development of next-generation vaccines and treatments.
This rebranding highlights the government’s recognition of the evolving nature of the pandemic and its commitment to pursuing innovative solutions to combat it.
Meanwhile, President Biden has signed a Republican bill to end the national emergency over the COVID-19 pandemic, a day before the White House planned to do so.
Despite bipartisan support, the White House opposed the GOP bill and warned of potential chaos and uncertainty in the healthcare system.
Telehealth flexibilities, introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic, were extended for an additional two years by legislators last year.
With over 1.13 million COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. in the past three years, these flexibilities have allowed for healthcare to be delivered via smartphone or computer.
Former President Trump and current President Biden both declared public health emergencies in response to the pandemic, with Biden expanding emergency powers upon entering office.
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