The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has asked the Pentagon to assist in President Biden’s goal of vaccinating 100 million people against the coronavirus in his first 100 days in office, the top Defense Department (DOD) spokesman said Thursday. .
The Department of Defense has received a request from FEMA for assistance in administering the COVID-19 vaccine at various locations around the country. The department is evaluating the request and what kind of support it can provide, ”Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said in a statement.
Kirby said that, given the significance of the request, “it will be urgently but carefully assessed” to determine what military assets could be made available to assist safely.
“As [Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin
Lloyd AustinOvernight Defense: Biden administration pausing UAE, Saudi arms sales | Pentagon making climate change national security priority | VA secretary nominee sails through hearing Pentagon declares climate change a ‘national security issue’ Senate GOP slow walking Biden’s pick to lead DHS MORE] said, DOD is committed to doing as much as possible to help the entire government against COVID-19. “
CNN was the first to report on talks between the Pentagon and the Department of Homeland Security, of which FEMA is a part, about how the military can help the agency.
One solution is to send up to 10,000 active and National Guard troops to so-called vaccination megahubs.
President Biden has an ambitious goal of getting the United States to vaccinate 1.5 million people a day in the coming weeks, he announced Monday.
“It’s going to be a logistical challenge that will surpass anything we’ve ever tried in this country, but I think we can,” Biden said at a press conference.
But the White House has dampened expectations, with press secretary Jen Psaki
Jen Psaki Overnight Healthcare: Biden Advisor Delivers More Pessimistic Prediction About Vaccine Rollout | CDC says coronavirus could kill up to 514K by Feb. 20 Vaccine research funds have been abused for decades, says watchdog McCaul has urged senators to block the vote on the Secretary of Commerce over Huawei’s concerns. On Tuesday he clarified that Biden was only optimistic and that he did not set a concrete goal.
White House COVID-19 adviser Andy Slavitt said Wednesday it will take “months” for all Americans who want a coronavirus vaccine to get one.