The decree will guarantee “that the United States Government gives priority to vaccinating American citizens, before sending vaccines to other countries,” added Donald Trump, while Pfizer / BioNTech, responsible for the covid-19 vaccine that may come to be authorized within days, it expected to distribute only 100 million doses in the country.
Moderna, whose vaccine could be authorized by the end of next week, also promised 100 million doses. Each contract includes options for additional doses, but the time to activate these clauses can delay delivery by several months.
There are more than 330 million Americans and the government says it can meet the goal of providing everyone with a vaccine by April 2021.
The two manufacturers have industrial plants in the USA in Europe, and there are laws that, in theory, would allow the US government to anticipate the production of both laboratories, such as the Defense Production Act.
The text of the decree that Trump signed in front of the cameras today during a “vaccine summit” at the White House was not immediately released.
“If necessary, we will invoke the Defense Production Act,” said Trump, adding, however, that he did not think “it is necessary to do so.”
Two other vaccines with advanced clinical trials could be authorized in early 2021, ensuring supplies to the United States.
One, to be administered in two inoculations, from AstraZeneca / Oxford, from which Washington ordered 500 million doses, and another, to be administered in a single dose, from the American pharmaceutical company Johnson & Johnson, from which the United States expects 100 million doses .
For his part, President-elect Joe Biden warned today that the vaccination campaign against the new coronavirus could slow down or even stop if Congress fails to reach a financial agreement soon to fight the pandemic.
“Without urgent Congressional action this month, (…) there is a real possibility that after a first vaccination campaign these efforts will slow down and stop,” warned the Democrat.
Joe Biden promised to administer 100 million vaccines in the first 100 days of the presidency.
Donald Trump’s team had planned to vaccinate 100 million people by March 2021, for a total of 200 million doses.
Today, Joe Biden called for urgent action on the coronavirus pandemic while introducing a health team that will be tested at every step and will strive to restore a sense of normalcy in Americans’ daily lives.
Biden set three priorities against covid-19 in the first 100 days of his presidency: asking all of his countrymen to wear a mask, administering 100 million vaccines and promising to try to reopen most schools in the country.
At the top of Biden’s list of choices was nominated health secretary Xavier Becerra, a Latin politician who grew up in a humble family and who served Congress as California’s attorney general.
A businessman known for his efficiency in crisis management, and a quartet of doctors, including Anthony Fauci, considered by the government to be the leading specialist in infectious diseases, are part of Biden’s choices.
The urgency of the moment in the United States, which faces an average of 2,200 daily deaths and 200,000 infected people, has overshadowed, however, all promises of well-being for the country.
Government scientific advisers meet on Thursday to allegedly recommend administering the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine in the United States, which is already being administered in the United Kingdom.
Having an approved vaccine and making it available to 330 million Americans are, however, different situations.
Therefore, Biden warned today of the need for Donald Trump to carry out a review of the team that plans the vaccination campaign, considering that it has deficiencies.
In that regard, he asked Congress to pass legislation to finance the administration of vaccines as they become more widely available next year.
Becerra, chosen by Biden to head the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), will have the support of the White House by businessman Jeff Zients, who will assume the role of coordinator of the response to the coronavirus. Along with Fauci and other selected doctors, including infectious disease specialist Rochelle Walensky to head the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Vivek Murthy, general surgeon and Yale epidemiologist Marcella Nunez-Smith to head a group of work to ensure fair and equitable distribution of vaccines and treatments.
As secretary of HHS, Becerra will be responsible for overseeing the refugee resettlement office that looks after unaccompanied minors who enter the United States illegally. As attorney general, he helped lead a coalition of state attorney generals who contested the Trump administration’s child separation policies.
Republicans have made clear the lines of attack in choosing Becerra.
As a 12-term ex-congressman, Becerra will take office knowing the Capitol, but will need to establish ties with governors who will play extraordinary roles in the distribution of the coronavirus vaccine.
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