The White House coronavirus action group announced Wednesday that it would increase vaccination rates across the United States, including a reduction in COVID cases, hospitalization and death.
Jeffrey Zients, the White House’s COVID-19 response coordinator, said the weekly supply of vaccines to states is now at 14.5 million, up from 8.6 million five weeks ago – a 70 percent increase.
“We’ve almost doubled weekly doses in just five weeks,” Zients said at a coronavirus action group news conference Wednesday.
Jeffrey Zients, White House ‘s COVID-19 response coordinator, said the ramped vaccination effort will include an increase in the number of people giving vaccines [White House via AP]
Zients said the effort will include an increase in the number of people giving vaccines, including 800 federal workers to be vaccinated.
“We’re moving teams to get scenes in arms,” he said.
US President Joe Biden took office on January 20 with a pledge to vaccinate 100 million people in his first 100 days in office. Zients said the administration is far ahead of that goal.
Biden had also urged Americans to wear masks for the first 100 days in office, to help reduce the spread of the virus. Many low-income Americans, Zients said, still do not have enough access to masks.
On Wednesday, the White House announced plans to distribute 25 million masks in community health centers, food banks and food pantries from March to May.
Zients said the plan was part of an effort for “equality,” a pandemic that disproportionately affected people of color and poor Americans.
“Not all Americans wear masks regularly, not everyone has access and not all masks are the same,” he said.
He said the masks are made of fabric and reusable, in both adult and children’s sizes. The White House said about 12 to 15 million Americans will receive masks.
Jeffrey Zeints said three to four million doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine could be available next week, with 20 million doses by the end of March [Kamil Krzaczynski/Reuters]
Following the announcement of the Zients mask, Vice President Kamala Harris addressed vaccine inequality, as Black and Latino Americans receive shots at lower rates than white Americans.
“Let’s not let COVID get us.” We’ll get the vaccine instead, right? “Harris said in an interview with MSNBC.” Let’s not let this get to us. “
“We know that black people are more likely to get the virus and die from it,” Harris continued. “We know when you look at who the front-runners are, who’s most unfairly at risk, we’re talking about people of color.”
Zients also announced that they are ready to release the Johnson & Johnson vaccine next week if it receives an upcoming emergency approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
“We want the American people to know that we are doing the job,” Zients said, “so that if the EUA [Emergency Use Authorisation] implemented, we will not waste any time getting this life – saving vaccine in the arms of Americans. “
He said three to four million doses could be available next week, with 20 million doses by the end of March. Zients said the company has a contract to deliver 100 million doses by the end of June.
Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said the ramped immunization campaign is continuing amid a nationwide decline in new diseases, hospital admissions and deaths.
She said new COVID-19 cases had dropped 25 percent from last week, and deaths – at less than 2,000 per day – had dropped 35 percent from the previous week. Hospital admissions were also down 16 percent from a week earlier, she said.
The White House held a candlelight vigil in Washington, DC, Monday to honor the 500,000 Americans killed by the coronavirus [Jonathan Ernst/Reuters]
“We continue to see trends going in the right direction,” Walensky said at Wednesday’s press conference. “While this is good news,” she said, “things are still high.”
Deaths from the coronavirus killed more than 500,000 on Monday, more than any other country in the world. That evening, the White House held a candlelight vigil in Washington, DC, to honor the lives lost.
“This nation will laugh again.” This country will know sunny days again. This country will know again, ”said Biden in his speech on Monday.
On Wednesday the FDA announced that the J&J coronavirus vaccine is safe and effective in preventing serious cases and deaths. Unlike the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines currently administered in the US, the J&J vaccine requires only one dose. It also does not need storage in freezing weather.
The FDA news paves the way for the vaccine to be approved later in the week.