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Remarks at the White House on Operation Warp Speed

Alex M. Azar II
Rose Garden
November 13, 2020
Washington, D.C.

Back in the spring, we were told by the experts that a vaccine was a year or a year-and-a-half away, and the announcements I just highlighted would have been unthinkable. The President said that’s not acceptable—and, thanks to the support he’s provided, we’re now on track to deliver a safe and effective vaccine to our most vulnerable this year.

Thank you, Mr. President, for providing the leadership that’s gotten us where we are today.

The success Operation Warp Speed has realized so far has been made possible only because of the bold vision you announced not even six months ago right here in the Rose Garden.

To highlight three of the remarkable accomplishments we’ve seen just this week: First, Pfizer announced very promising data on its vaccine candidate.

Second, FDA authorized, and we have begun to distribute and administer, Eli Lilly’s monoclonal antibody to help Americans at risk for serious disease stay out of the hospital.

Third, another vaccine company, Moderna, announced that it’s reached a critical clinical trial milestone, meaning we may see data from them within days.

Back in the spring, we were told by all of the experts that a vaccine was a year or a year-and-a-half away, and the announcements I just highlighted would have been unthinkable. The President said that’s not acceptable—and, thanks to the support he’s provided, we’re now on track to deliver a safe and effective vaccine to our most vulnerable this year.

As I worked with the President to assemble this team and organize this effort, his support was indispensable at each step of the way.

We went out and found the very best people on the planet to do the job, who you just talked with—Dr. Slaoui, the world’s most successful vaccine developer, and General Perna, one of the world’s most qualified logistics leaders.

When I first talked to Dr. Slaoui and General Perna about our goals and recruited them to this effort, we dreamed of being at the point we’re at today—on track to achieve the incredibly ambitious goal we set together.

The President gave us the full financial support we needed, enabling us to invest more than $10 billion to de-risk vaccine companies’ development efforts and manufacture product in advance.

Our completely unprecedented partnership with the Defense Department has given us a comprehensive public-private plan for distribution, and helped each Operation Warp Speed vaccine maker secure what they needed for manufacturing—including Pfizer’s ongoing production this week.

Operation Warp Speed has always had one goal: saving lives.

The President has given OWS the independence it needs to achieve that goal and ensured that we’re following the procedures that Americans expect for any medical product they take. At every step, ensuring patients’ safety has been our top priority.

This process has been driven solely by science and data, so it’s a shame that some—one example being the governor of New York—have actually injected politics into the process and suggested the possibility of intentionally delaying access to an FDA-authorized vaccine, which is simply unconscionable.

Because the President has delivered the full funding we need, the best people on the planet, and real independence for this project, Operation Warp Speed is doing something that’s never been done before in history.

This success means there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Right now is not the time to let our guard down. We continue to encourage Americans to follow the 3 Ws: Wash your hands, watch your distance, wear a mask when you can’t watch your distance, and avoid settings where you can’t do those things.

Because of the incredible American spirit, because of what great scientists and public servants and innovators have done through Operation Warp Speed, we have such a bright future ahead of us.

If we continue to protect ourselves, our families, and our communities, then I firmly believe that future will be here, very soon.

Thank you, Mr. President, for making that very bright future possible for the American people.

Content created by Speechwriting and Editorial Division 
Content last reviewed on November 13, 2020