The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has called on the Pentagon to help with President Biden’s goal of vaccinating 100 million people against the coronavirus in his first 100 days in office, the top spokesman said on Thursday. Department of Defense (DOD).
“The Department of Defense has received a request from FEMA for assistance in administering the COVID-19 vaccine in various parts of the country. The Department is evaluating the application and what kind of support it can provide,” he said. said Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby in a statement.
Kirby said that given the importance of the request, “it will be reviewed urgently but carefully” to determine what military assets can be made available to help safely.
“How [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] he said, DOD is committed to doing everything it can to help the whole government’s effort against COVID-19 ”.
CNN was the first to report on discussions between the Pentagon and the Department of Homeland Security, of which FEMA is a part, on how the military can help the agency.
Possible solutions include sending up to 10,000 active forces and the National Guard to the so-called vaccination megahubs.
President Biden has an ambitious goal of the United States vaccinating 1.5 million people a day in the coming weeks, it announced Monday.
“It will be a logistical challenge that goes beyond anything we’ve ever tried in this country, but I think we can do it,” Biden said during a press conference.
But the White House has moderated expectations, with the press secretary Jen Psaki
Jen Psaki: overnight healthcare: Biden adviser offers more pessimistic predictions about vaccine launch | CDC says coronavirus could kill up to 514K on Feb. 20 | Vaccine research funds have been misused for decades, according to the guardian, according to McCaul, who urges senators to block the Commerce Secretary’s vote out of concern for Hawaii. Tuesday clarifying that Biden was only optimistic and that no specific goal was set.
Andy Slavitt, a White House adviser to COVID-19, said Wednesday that it will be “months” before all Americans who want a coronavirus vaccine can get one.