The supercomputer will be used to analyze data on COVID-19. This is stated in a statement released on Tuesday, July 28, on the website of the US Department of Health and Human Services.
The US Department of Veterans Affairs and the US Department of Energy will also be involved in the program for the exchange and analysis of data on the new type of coronavirus. The ultimate goal is to create a vaccine and drugs that can help those infected.
As noted in the statement, the specialists plan to use “the fastest supercomputer in the United States, Summit, which is located at the US National Laboratory.” It is owned by the Department of Energy and is located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
Summit was created by the American corporation IBM. For nearly two years, it was considered the world’s fastest computer. In June this year, this status was transferred to the Japanese supercomputer “Fugaku” from the State Institute of Natural Sciences.
On the same day, US President Donald Trump, during a briefing at the White House, admitted that the United States would supply other countries with its coronavirus vaccine. Also, the head of the White House said that the United States has significantly increased the production of materials needed for the vaccine. After approval of the vaccine, the country will be able to quickly produce 100 million doses, and then 500 million doses.
On July 27, US Vice President Michael Pence announced that the Food and Drug Administration of the US Department of Health has authorized the third phase of clinical trials of a coronavirus vaccine. According to him, the third stage of testing will begin in 89 centers throughout the United States, and about 30 thousand people will take part in it. Pence also recalled that the pharmaceutical company Moderna, which is developing the vaccine, began the first phase of trials in March 2020, a few weeks after receiving the genetic code of the coronavirus.