WASHINGTON (AP) – President-elect Joe Biden will release most of the available doses of COVID-19 vaccine to speed up delivery to more people, a reversal of the Trump administration’s policy, his office said Friday.
“The president-elect believes we need to speed up the distribution of the vaccine while continuing to ensure that Americans who need it most receive it as soon as possible,” spokesman TJ Ducklo said in a statement. Biden “supports the release of immediately available doses and believes the government should stop slowing down the supply of vaccines so we can get more shots in the arms of Americans.”
According to the Trump administration’s approach, the government has withheld a supply of vaccines to ensure people can get a second vaccine, which provides maximum protection against COVID-19. Both the Pfizer-BioNTech and the Modern vaccine require a second shot about three weeks after the first vaccination. Single-shot vaccines are still being tested.
After a glimmer of hope when the first vaccines were approved last month, the country’s inoculation campaign has slowly begun. Of the 29.4 million doses distributed, about 5.9 million, or 27%, were administered, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Biden has already indicated his discomfort. In a speech last week, before Congress certified his election victory, the president-elect said he intends to speed up vaccinations by making the federal government play a stronger role in making sure vaccines don’t are only available, but vaccinations are started. in the arms of more Americans.
“The Trump administration’s plan to distribute vaccines is lagging behind, far behind,” Biden said. “If it continues to move like it does, it will take years, not months, to vaccinate the American people.”
The American Hospital Association estimates that the nation should vaccinate 1.8 million people a day, every day, from January 1 to May 31, to achieve the goal of having widespread immunity for the summer. . This is also called “herd immunity” and would involve vaccinating at least 75% of the population.
Without explaining the details, Biden said his administration will launch a much more aggressive vaccination campaign, with greater federal involvement and leadership, and aim to manage 100 million shots in the first 100 days.
He said he and elected Vice President Kamala Harris have been talking to state and local leaders about a coordinated approach that thickens the efforts of governments at all levels. Among the details: the opening of vaccination centers and the sending of mobile vaccine units to hard-to-reach communities.
“The most important thing is that there is no coordinated national plan,” Biden’s adviser, Dr. Rick Bright, told The Associated Press.
Ducklo said Biden will share additional details next week on how his administration will deal with the pandemic when he takes office on Jan. 20.
CNN first reported on Biden’s plan to change the vaccine distribution plan.