President Joe Biden said that it will be difficult for the United States to reach herd immunity, at least 75% of the population inoculated against the coronavirus, by the end of this summer.
“The idea that this can be done and we can get to herd immunity much before the end of next — this summer, is — is very difficult,” Biden told CBS news in an interview.
As of Sunday morning the United States has administered 41 210 937 doses of COVID-19 vaccines and distributed 59,307,800 doses, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.
In January Biden said he would order increased production of syringes and other supplies to ramp up vaccinations against COVID-19 and improve upon the Trump administration rollout that he has called a “dismal failure.”
Under Biden’s plan, federal disaster-relief workers would set up thousands of vaccination centers, where retired doctors would administer shots to teachers, grocery store workers,people over 65 years old and other groups who do not currently qualify.
According to a document released by his transition team, Biden would invoke the Defense Production Act to increase production of equipment needed to distribute the vaccines, such as glass vials, needles and syringes.
He would also use the law to support vaccine refrigeration and storage.
States that use their National Guard in the effort would be reimbursed by the federal government, the transition team said.
With infection rates soaring, Biden has promised to do better than President Donald Trump to curb the virus, and get 100 million vaccine shots into the arms of Americans during his first 100 days in office.
