# Operation Warp Speed

> Launched a public-private partnership to accelerate development, manufacturing and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines.

Donald Trump · Healthcare · Major Decision · May 15, 2020
Official record: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Warp_Speed

## What happened

Launched a public-private partnership to accelerate development, manufacturing and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, with the first emergency use authorizations granted in December 2020.

## How it happened

Coordinated HHS and DoD with advance-purchase agreements and at-risk manufacturing funding for multiple vaccine candidates.

## Documented impact

- [positive / substantiated] Helped deliver highly effective vaccines in record time. — Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines received EUA by late December 2020; Pfizer's trial showed ~95% efficacy. Vaccines are credited with saving millions of lives and averting hundreds of billions in medical costs.
- [mixed / substantiated] Distribution and uptake faced challenges. — GAO reported manufacturing and distribution hurdles; later vaccine hesitancy limited uptake in parts of the country.

## Sources

- [National Academy of Medicine on OWS vaccine effectiveness](https://nam.edu/news-and-insights/statement-on-effectiveness-of-covid-19-vaccines-under-operation-warp-speed/)
- [GAO: Operation Warp Speed](https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-21-319)

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Canonical: https://eo.alanwizemann.com/eo/trump/operation-warp-speed