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Vaccination

Biden Administration Announces Accelerated Vaccine Delivery and Nationwide Vaccination Efforts

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

President Joe Biden has announced that the United States expects to receive enough coronavirus vaccines for all adult Americans by the end of May, two months earlier than previously anticipated. The administration has also announced that drugmaker Merck & Co. will assist in the production of Johnson & Johnson's newly approved vaccine, aiming to speed up the production and delivery of the vaccine. As part of the efforts to reopen schools, the White House has directed all states to prioritize vaccinating teachers and has provided the necessary doses through its pharmacy program. Biden has challenged states to administer at least one dose of the vaccine to all teachers by the end of March.

Key Takeaways:

  • The U.S. expects to receive enough coronavirus vaccines for all adult Americans by the end of May, two months earlier than anticipated.
  • Merck & Co. will assist in the production of Johnson & Johnson's newly approved vaccine to speed up production and delivery.
  • The White House has directed all states to prioritize vaccinating teachers and has provided the necessary doses through its pharmacy program.
  • Biden has challenged states to administer at least one dose of the vaccine to all teachers by the end of March.
  • The administration has announced that the supply of vaccines will gradually increase over the coming weeks, with an additional 2.8 million doses of the J&J shot to be distributed this week.
  • States will also receive 15.2 million doses per week of Moderna and Pfizer vaccines next week, up from 14.5 million previously.
  • The supply of J&J doses to states is expected to dip after the initial shipment this week but will climb to 4-6 million weekly doses by the end of March and 5-6 million doses weekly through the end of April.
  • Merck will devote two plants to the production process, one to make the vaccine and the other to handle inserting it into vials and ensuring strict quality controls.
  • The Biden administration will use its powers under the Defense Production Act to help Merck retool to work on the production.

Statistics:

  • The U.S. expects to receive enough coronavirus vaccines for all adult Americans by the end of May.
  • Merck & Co. will assist in the production of 100 million doses of Johnson & Johnson's vaccine by the end of June.
  • The White House has directed states to administer at least one dose of the vaccine to all teachers by the end of March.
  • States will receive 15.2 million doses per week of Moderna and Pfizer vaccines next week.
  • The supply of J&J doses to states is expected to climb to 4-6 million weekly doses by the end of March and 5-6 million doses weekly through the end of April.
  • Merck will devote two plants to the production process, one to make the vaccine and the other to handle inserting it into vials and ensuring strict quality controls.
  • The Biden administration will use its powers under the Defense Production Act to help Merck retool to work on the production.

Sources:

  • By ZEKE MILLER, LINDA A. JOHNSON and JONATHAN LEMIRE Associated Press WASHINGTON
  • Source: Associated Press

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