Axios PM: Vaccine timeline "to ensure public trust" — Early voting avalanche — Coke cans Tab

1 big thing: Vaccine timeline "to ensure public trust" | Friday, October 16, 2020

View in browser   Axios PM By Mike Allen ·Oct 16, 2020 Good afternoon: Today's PM — edited by Justin Green — is 460 words, a 1 1/2-minute read. 🎓 Situational awareness: Davidson, the private college in North Carolina, is freezing tuition and fees next year in response to the pandemic. "Our students and their families face many challenges right now," said Davidson President Carol Quillen. "We want to be part of the solution." Davidson has need-blind admission and costs just over $70,000 a year (the school's average financial aid package is roughly $49,000 a year).     1 big thing: Vaccine timeline "to ensure public trust" Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios   Pfizer says people might start getting COVID-19 vaccines before the end of the year, according to a timeline it laid out today. By the end of October, the company said it hopes to know whether the vaccine is effective, the Wall Street Journal reports. By the 3rd week of November, it hopes to know whether it's safe for distribution. By late November, the company could request an emergency use authorization. The big picture: This reduces the odds of a vaccine being approved before the election, but also works to reduce concerns about vaccines being approved for political reasons. "To ensure public trust and clear up a great deal of confusion, I believe it is essential for the public to understand our estimated timelines," CEO Mr. Albert Bourla said today. The bottom line: "The vaccine candidate from Pfizer and BioNTech is among the most advanced in development, along with candidates from AstraZeneca PLC, Moderna Inc. and Johnson & Johnson," the Journal notes. "Yet trials for AstraZeneca and J&J's vaccines are on hold, at least in the U.S., as safety issues are probed." "The studies' pauses, combined with the timeline laid out by Pfizer, suggest the company's shot could be one of the first, if not the first, to be sent to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for review." 🎧 Operation Warp Speed's Moncef Slaoui on the new vaccine timeline. Listen here. Go deeper: Trump administration announces deal with CVS, Walgreens to give COVID-19 vaccine to seniors.     2. Pic du jour Photo: Jorge Silva/Reuters   A man pushes against police officers during an anti-government protest in Bangkok, Thailand.     Bonus: Avalanche of early voting Ballots cast so far this year already make up 12% of the total cast in 2016, the AP reports.     3. Catch up quick Scoop: Three senior Trump advisers who recently talked to campaign manager Bill Stepien walked away believing he thinks they will lose, Jonathan Swan reports. Uber is seeking strategic alternatives for its Uber Elevate business, including strategic partnerships or a partial sale. Go deeper. Israel and Bahrain will sign a "joint communique on establishing peaceful and diplomatic relations" during a visit by a joint Israeli-U.S. delegation. Go deeper. The scientific leader of Operation Warp Speed told the Axios Re:Cap podcast that he hasn't yet spoken with anyone on Team Biden about vaccine development or deployment. Listen here.     4. Coke cans Tab Photo: Ramin Talaie/Corbis via Getty Images   For Tabaholics, it's time to say goodbye. The iconic brand that launched in 1963 will be retired by Coca-Cola, which is slashing its number of brands by half, the Wall Street Journal reports. More products going offline include "Diet Coke Feisty Cherry, Sprite Lymonade, and Coke Life... Coca-Cola is also retiring small regional brands, such as Northern Neck Ginger Ale, Delaware Punch and Mendota Springs seltzer." Flashback: Tab's pop culture success faded fast after Diet Coke was introduced in 1982.     Axios thanks our partners for supporting our newsletters. Sponsorship has no influence on editorial content. Axios, 3100 Clarendon B‌lvd, Suite 1300, Arlington VA 22201   You received this email because you signed up for newsletters from Axios. Change your preferences or unsubscribe here.   Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now to get Axios in your inbox.   Follow Axios on social media: