The Trump administration is releasing second doses of coronavirus vaccines that had been withheld from booster shots and is urging states to administer the vaccine to anyone over the age of 65 and those with pre-existing health conditions, a shift from previous guidelines to prioritize to doses for health care workers.
“First, we have already made every dose of vaccine available. So we withheld the second dose as a safety stop, ”Alex Azar, Secretary of Health and Human Services on ABC’s“ Good Morning America ”said Tuesday. “We now believe that our production is so predictable that we can ensure second doses are available to people from ongoing production. So everything is now available to our states and our healthcare providers. “
Officials from the Department of Health and Human Services are expected to provide details on the change later Tuesday.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 25.4 million doses of vaccine have been dispensed, but only 8.9 million Americans have received an injection.
Axios first reported the planned announcement.