Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azhar meets with Biden’s alternative team and says 20 million Americans could be vaccinated ‘in the next several weeks’



At a time when the corona virus epidemic is on the rise across the country, Azhar predicts on CNN’s “new day” that 20 million people will be vaccinated “in the next several weeks”. He said the Trump administration was in talks with Pfizer to obtain additional doses of its vaccine, and that the administration would “use every force” under the Defense Production Act to help private companies meet the massive logistics requirements for vaccinating the country. “I’m already met with the Biden change team. We want to make sure they get everything they need,” Azhar told CNN’s Alice Camerotta, adding that she would contact Biden’s selection to lead California’s Attorney General Xavier Beckeray to lead the HHS. . “I want to make sure any change is as smooth and professional as possible, because we want to ensure the health and well-being of the American people, and that’s what’s important to me,” Azhar said. His comments come at a critical time in epidemics. Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations are on the rise across the United States, but there has been a significant improvement in vaccinations. The United Kingdom has already begun releasing the Pfizer / Bioentech vaccine, boasting of being the first country in the world to vaccinate its citizens, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Advisory Council met on Thursday to review it as a key step in emergency use. Authentication process. Asked about initial reports from the UK, including whether those with a “significant history of allergic reactions” should not receive the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine, Azar told CNN regulators that the company was “not going to cut any corners” after looking at FDA data. Promises. “We want to make sure that any vaccine released in the United States has the full gold standard stamp of approval from the FDA industry,” Azhar said. Azhar told CNN that once a vaccine is approved by the FDA, the federal government authorizes it to send the vaccine within 24 hours, and that “governors should go to us wherever they want.” The primary focus is on health workers and nursing home patients, according to Azhar. “Twenty million people will be vaccinated in the next several weeks, and then we will produce vaccines in January, February and March,” Azhar said. Corona virus infection There have been an average of more than 200,000 new corona virus cases per day in the past week, while registered people have been hospitalized with the virus. As of Wednesday morning, more than 286,000 people had died and more than 15.1 million people had been affected, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. Negotiations with Pfizer also responded to reports that the Trump administration had turned down a deal this summer. The Pfizer vaccine – before it proved to be effective in clinical trials – exceeded its initial order of more than 100 million doses. The United States stopped placing orders for additional doses without a definite delivery date or quantity – and with other vaccine candidates, but the decision was first announced by the New York Times, as the company could not fulfill any additional U.S. orders until June due to commitments with other countries. “We guaranteed the purchase of 100 million doses of Pfizer vaccine before the start of the third phase of clinical trials. They are not willing to give us a definite date for the production and delivery of additional vaccines, so we have an additional 500 million option,” Azhar said. Azhar said the federal government was in talks with Pfizer, but would not go into more detail, adding that “we have up to 500 million options to go with.” “Over the past two months, we have received their commitment and agreement with Pfizer to provide additional quantities under our preferences on a specific date. I am very confident that this will happen, but the American people know that we will use every force we have under the Defense Production Act to ensure that the American people receive what they need. I want to, ”he said.” Supplies and equipment for companies to help roll over. However, it is not clear whether management can use this law to force companies to vaccinate Americans against the corona virus before other countries. “Azhar defends White House Christmas feasts Despite 19 cases, the White House continues to violate the Centers’ Disease for Quantitative Controls by Holding Holidays For control and prevention guidelines. The Trump White House has already been the center of at least three Govt-19 explosions among staff and those attending their meetings, and Trump campaign attorney Jenna Ellis recently tested positive for Govt-19 and attended a Christmas party designated for senior staff on Friday. Asked if the White House was still comfortable hosting such events amid epidemics, Azar told CNN that he “felt safe” at the recent White House Christmas party he attended. “I actually attended one of them, and the individuals – most individuals – wore masks around me, and we worked the key distance. The number of people was dramatically less than in previous years. So I felt comfortable there. I always felt safe wearing my mask. I’m wearing it, “he said.” Wash your hands, look at your distance, and wear your face mask if you can not see your distance. “He encouraged Americans to have no particular organization. Do not reduce your security in indoor settings. “.

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