A spokesman for the US Department of Health, and an official in the administration of US President Joe Biden, announced that the US government intends to spend more than five billion dollars, in an effort to accelerate efforts to develop new vaccines and medicines for Covid-19 disease.
The investment, dubbed the “Next Generation Project” and first announced by White House and Health Department officials in an interview with The Washington Post, aims to provide better protection against coronaviruses that may pose a threat in the future, including the virus that causes COVID-19. .
“While our vaccines are still very effective in preventing serious illness and death, they are less able to reduce infections and transmission over time,” a Ministry of Health spokesman said Monday.
“New variants and loss of immunity over time may continue to challenge our healthcare systems in the coming years,” he added.
The administration of President Joe Biden intends to spend at least five billion dollars in concert with the private sector in a move similar to the “Operation Maximum Speed” project, which led during the term of former President Donald Trump to accelerate the development and distribution of vaccines in 2020.
“The Next Generation Project will accelerate the development of the next generation of vaccines and medicines through a concerted effort between the public and private sectors,” the Biden administration official said.
“A minimum infusion of $5 billion will help catalyze scientific progress in areas that have significant public health benefits for the American people, with the goal of developing safe and effective tools for the American people,” he added.