President Obama says Zika vaccine could come fast, wants congress to pass Zika-prevention bill

WASHINGTON — President Obama says a vaccine for the Zika virus could be developed in “fairly short order” if Congress acts quickly to pass a bill to prevent the spread of the disease.

Obama said researchers are beginning to develop and test a vaccine for the mosquito-borne virus.

The President said that if the effort is well funded he’s “fairly confident” an effective vaccine could be developed before the virus spreads to the continental U.S.

 

Obama made the remarks on Friday after being briefed by top health officials at the White House.

The President is trying to pressure Congress to pass a Zika-prevention bill that has been stalled for weeks. He has criticized lawmakers for “playing politics” with public health.

 

He also said lawmakers should not take their summer recess before passing a bill.

Earlier in the week, White House spokesman Josh Earnest had chided Republicans for failing to push forward with the President’s request.

“They need that money right now,” Earnest told reporters on Tuesday, referring to U.S. agencies that he said are on the frontlines of battling the virus, especially in the U.S.