President-elect Joe Biden is determined to get at least 100 million COVID-19 vaccine shots “into the arms of the American people” during his first 100 days in office.
On Tuesday, Biden said his first months in office would change the course of the United States’ COVID-19 strategy, adding that he would make it a “national priority” to get children back to school during that time. He vowed to run “the most efficient mass vaccination plan in U.S. history.”
“My first 100 days won’t end the Covid-19 virus — I can’t promise that. But we did not get into this mess quickly. We’re not going to get out of it quickly,” Biden said. “I’m absolutely convinced that in 100 days we can change the course of the disease and change life in America for the better.”
The incoming chief executive made his promise when he introduced the members of his health team who will lead the country in the fight against the dreaded virus in the next months.
Vaccine rollout in the U.S. inches closer
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is expected to issue the emergency use authorization for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine on Thursday. The country’s top infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci is saying that the mass vaccination could start next week.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump on Tuesday also attended a summit at the White House for his Covid-19 vaccination program, Operation Warp Speed, and lauded the expected approval of vaccines.
The Trump administration bats for the vaccination of about 24 million individuals by mid-January.
Biden earlier lamented that he did not receive any rollout plans by the Trump administration. Moncef Slaoui, Operation Warp Speed’s top scientist, is yet to meet the Biden team and is poised to do so this week.
On Monday, Biden selected California Attorney General Xavier Becerra to helm the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as the country continues to battle a surge in COVID-19 cases.
