(Newser)
– The dollar now stops with President Biden on the launch of the coronavirus vaccine and promised on Tuesday to increase supply and provide “enough vaccine to vaccinate 300 million Americans in late summer and early fall” Biden said the federal government plans to buy 200 million more doses of vaccine, 100 of each from Moderna and Pfizer, bringing the total supply to 600 million, Politico reports. Both vaccines are two-dose regimens. There are currently only about 260 million Americans considered eligible for vaccination, but the number could increase depending on the results of Moderna and Pfizer clinical trials in children up to 12 years old, reports the Washington Post. Authorities say that despite the additional order, limited manufacturing capacity means an increase in supply is unlikely immediately before April, according to the New York News.
“This will allow millions more Americans to get vaccinated earlier than expected,” said the president, who described the push as a “war effort.” Biden also announced that there would be a 16% increase in vaccine doses sent to states over the next three weeks following complaints of significant shortages, AP reports. Taking office, Biden initially pledged to vaccinate 100 million Americans in 100 days, but experts said the pace would have to be doubled for things to return to normal by the end of the summer. Biden also said Tuesday that state governors will now be informed of vaccine allocations three weeks before delivery. “Until now, we had to guess what vaccine” each week, he said. “This is unacceptable. There are lives at stake.” (Read more stories about the coronavirus vaccine).