U.S. Sen. John Barrasso hailed the new coronavirus vaccine awaiting approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration this week as a game-changer in medicine, comparing it to the discovery of penicillin and insulin as medications.
“We’ve gone from something that was felt to be impossible to something that truly is incredible, a 95% effective vaccine, 100% effective against death or hospitalizations,” he said during an appearance on Fox News this week. “As a doctor, in terms of being able to save lives, this is right up there with the discovery of insulin or penicillin.”
Barrasso added that he has been speaking with the head of the intensive care unit at the Wyoming Medical Center in Casper, who told him the hospital is very excited to receive the vaccine.
The senator praised President Donald Trump’s “Operation Warp Speed,” which helped push through the vaccine at a quicker rate with the hope at least some doses are available to the public by the end of the year.
He added that the “worst was behind us,” when it came to the coronavirus pandemic.
However, Barrasso did still encourage people to wear masks and socially distance until the vaccine is readily available. He, along with colleagues Sen. Mike Enzi and Rep. Liz Cheney, backed Gov. Mark Gordon’s statewide mask mandate, which went into effect on Wednesday.
