As Summer Winds Down, Vaccine Speculation Heats Up

As summer winds down, speculation surrounding a coronavirus vaccine heats up as United States health officials and leaders announce developments in COVID-19 research. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is to hold an advisory committee meeting to address the general development of coronavirus vaccines on Oct. 22; Dr. Anthony Fauci predicted Wednesday that a coronavirus vaccine would be developed by the end of 2020. On Aug. 27, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) told states to be ready to distribute a coronavirus vaccine by Nov. 1. Globally, researchers in Iceland found that COVID-19 antibodies can exist in the body for up to four months. The U.S. this week also declined to join the World Health Organization (WHO) in efforts to develop a vaccine. Coverage of U.S. coronavirus vaccine developments was fairly consistent across all sides of the political spectrum. The U.S. declining to join the WHO's vaccine efforts was covered primarily by left- and center-rated outlets; coverage from right-rated outlets was scarce. Some right-rated outlets and voices focused on purported "anti-vaccine" efforts from people who allegedly want to undermine Trump's re-election chances.