Three things for September 25
1. Chinese company expects COVID-19 vaccine by early 2021
On Thursday, SinoVac, a Chinese pharmaceutical company, said the coronavirus vaccine currently in development should be ready to distribute worldwide in early 2021.
“At the very beginning, our strategy was designed for China and for Wuhan. Soon after that, in June and July we adjusted our strategy, that is to face the world,” said SinoVac CEO Yin Weidong. “Our goal is to provide the vaccine to the world, including the U.S., EU and others.”
If the vaccine, called CoronaVac, passes the third and final stage of human testing, then SinoVac will apply to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to sell the vaccine in the U.S.
At a Thursday press briefing, President Trump said vaccine trials in the U.S. and across the world are taking place in “record time.”
According to Yin, more than 24,000 people are participating in clinical trials of CoronaVac in Turkey, Brazil and Indonesia — all countries with serious outbreaks and large populations.
Additional trials are scheduled for Bangladesh and possibly Chile, according to AP News.
2. Gigi Hadid and Zayn Malik welcome baby girl
Model Gigi Hadid and musician Zayn Malik announced on social media their baby girl has arrived.
“To try to put into words how I am feeling right now would be an impossible task. The love I feel for this tiny human is beyond my understanding,” said Malik on his social media accounts. “Grateful to know her, proud to call her mine, and thankful for the life we will have together.”
Malik, 27, and Hadid, 25, have been an off-and-on couple for several years. Hadid confirmed the pregnancy in April.
3. North Carolina Senator plans to defund cities that defund police
North Carolina Senator Chuck Edwards says he plans to introduce a bill to defund cities that defund their police departments.
This announcement follows the Asheville City Council’s decision to defund its police department by more than $700,000.
Under the amendment, $770,000 would be reallocated from the police department to other city departments. The reallocated money will go towards nuisance response, homeless outreach, parks and recreation safety and public housing.
“When the legislature reconvenes next year, the first bill I will introduce will defund cities that defund the police. We must maintain law and order. While municipalities have control over their local budgets, the state legislature also has control over its budget, and I intend to help create an environment where public safety is a top priority,” Edwards stated. “Police officers protect my family and yours. Defunding police and hammering their morale until dozens resign will result in more crime, not less.”
