WILL A coronavirus vaccine be ready for distribution by Nov. 1? (Shutterstock).

Just in time or an “October Surprise”?

States have been advised by a federal agency to be ready to distribute a coronavirus vaccine by Nov. 1, raising hopes of any early end to the pandemic as well as concerns that it may be an unsafe, politically-timed move to affect the Nov. 3 presidential election.

According to the Associated Press and The New York Times, a letter to governors urged states to issue waivers if necessary to bring the vaccine to the public. “CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] urgently requests your assistance in expediting applications for these distribution facilities and, if necessary, asks that you consider waiving requirements that would prevent these facilities from becoming fully operational by Nov. 1, 2020,” wrote Dr. Robert Redfield, director of the agency.

A vaccine is not a treatment or cure, but instead is intended to reduce the likelihood or severity of a disease.

According to United Press International, some groups would receive a priority for the vaccine, such as health care and essential workers and residents and staff at long-term care facilities.

“I think it’s reasonable to be communicating to hospitals and saying, at some point late in the fall or winter,” said Michael Osterholm, an infectious disease expert from the University of Minnesota. “November feels awfully early.”

Biden wants FEMA money for schools

With the opening of schools across the nation complicated by funding problems, technological glitches and health worries, Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden said Wednesday that he would direct federal emergency relief funds to K-12 schools across the nation.

According to United Press International, Biden said that, if he were elected, he would order the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide revenue for educational institutions because of the coronavirus pandemic. “This year, we are facing the most difficult circumstance, and we are seeing an awful lot of heart and a lot of grit from our educators, our students, to try to rise to the occasion here,” said Biden. “But our government hasn’t come up to that bar. They haven’t shown much grit at all.’

Trump says “vote twice” to test system.

In what he termed as a way to test the safeguards of the election system, President Donald Trump in North Carolina Wednesday urged his voters to vote twice. He suggested they send in an absentee ballot, and then seek to vote in person. “If their system’s as good as they say it is, then obviously they won’t be able to vote,” he said. Voting twice in the same election is illegal in North Carolina.

Watch out for a hot weekend

Wednesday was a pretty perfect day in the mid-70s for West Orange County, but temperatures will head to the upper part of the thermometer starting Thursday with a high of 83. That’ll be followed by highs of 88 on Friday and 104 on Saturday. That hot enough for you? No? Well, Sunday is forecast to reach 105, according to the National Weather Service. As usual, the coast will be cooler, with Thursday’s high at 73 and Friday’s at 76. It will rise to 90 on Saturday and 92 on Sunday in Huntington Beach. Overall, an excessive heat warning will be in effect from Friday morning to Sunday evening.

Sports Today: Tom Seaver dead at 75

Tom Seaver, the Hall of Fame pitcher who led the “Miracle Mets” to a stunning World Series title in 1969, has died at the age of 75.

TOM SEAVER

He won 311 games and struck out 3,540 batters in a 10-year career with four teams. But “Tom Terrific”– as he was known by admiring fans and journalists – was most renowned for being the dominating starting pitcher who led baseball’s losing-est team – six last place finishes in seven years – to the Fall Classic, which they won 4-1 over the favored Baltimore Orioles.

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Dodgers are the best, Angels the worst

• Dodgers 3, Arizona Diamondbacks 2 (10). Mookie Betts hit a game-tying homer in the ninth and LA went on to win it in the 10th. Will Smith singled home Chris Taylor with the winning run. Walker Buehler pitched a strong start, working five shutout innings. He gave up two hits, struck out six batters and walked just one. The Dodgers are 28-10, which is the best record in MLB.
• San Diego Padres 11, Angels 4. The Padres scored eight runs in the top of the eighth inning to run away with the game in Anaheim. Jason Castro, recently traded from the Halos, hit the tie-breaking two-run double. Mike Trout hit his 13th home run of the season, but the Angel bullpen collapsed in the late going, yielding eight runs, eight hits and walking three batters. The team record is now 12-25 and is tied with the Boston Red Sox for the worst record in MLB.
• Sparks 91, Dallas Wings 83. Candace Parker scored 22 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as the Sparks improved to 13-4. She also had six assists in the WNBA game.
• Galaxy 3, Portland Timbers 2.  Cristian Pavon scored his fifth goal to lead the Galaxy to their third straight win. Also scoring were Efrain Juarez and Joe Corona. Galaxy is now 3-2-3 after a winless start.
• LAFC 5, San Jose Earthquakes 1. Diego Rossi scored twice to lead the team to the one-sided win. LAFC is now 3-3-2.