WASHINGTON (AP) – President-elect Joe Biden will release most of the COVID-19 vaccine doses available to speed up delivery to more people, a reversal of Trump’s policy, his office said Friday.
“The president-elect believes we need to accelerate the distribution of the vaccine while continuing to ensure that the Americans who need it most get it as soon as possible,” spokesman TJ Ducklo said in a statement. Biden “supports the immediate release of available doses, and believes the government should stop holding back vaccines so that we can now get more injections into Americans’ arms.”
Under the Trump administration’s approach, the government has withheld a stockpile of vaccines to ensure people can get a second shot, providing maximum protection against COVID-19. Both the Pfizer BioNTech and Moderna vaccines require a second injection approximately three weeks after the first vaccination. One-time vaccines are still being tested.
After a glow of hope when the first vaccines were approved last month, the country’s vaccination campaign has been slow to get underway. Of the 29.4 million doses divided, about 5.9 million have been administered, or 27%, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Biden has already expressed his displeasure. In a speech last week, before his election victory was confirmed by Congress, the president-elect said he plans to speed up vaccinations by letting the federal government play a stronger role in ensuring that not only vaccines are available, but that there is also shooting. in the arms of more Americans.
“The Trump administration’s plan to distribute vaccines is lagging – far behind,” said Biden. “If it keeps moving as it is now, it will take years, not months, to vaccinate the American people.”
The American Hospital Association estimates that every day, January 1 to May 31, the nation would need to vaccinate 1.8 million people a day to achieve its goal of broad-based immunity by summer. This is also known as “herd immunity”, where at least 75% of the population must be vaccinated.
Without specifying any details, Biden said his government will launch a much more aggressive vaccination campaign, with more federal commitment and leadership, aiming to deliver 100 million shots in the first 100 days.
He said he and elected Vice President Kamala Harris have spoken with state and local leaders about a coordinated approach that combines the efforts of governments at all levels. One of the details: opening vaccination centers and sending mobile vaccine units to hard-to-reach communities.
“Most importantly, there is no coordinated national plan,” Biden adviser Dr. Rick Bright at The Associated Press.
Ducklo said Biden will share additional details next week on how his government will tackle the pandemic when he takes office on Jan. 20.
Biden’s plan to change the vaccine distribution plan was first reported by CNN.
Copyright © 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.