To date, the U.S. has distributed more than 31 million Covid-19 vaccines to the states, but according to the latest data, according to the CDC, only about 40% have been given to humans.
But the evidence shows that the percentage of people vaccinated is probably much better than the numbers suggest.
But even with that reservation, the country not only missed the Trump administration’s stated goal of vaccinating 20 million people by December 20, it still did not reach 20 million three weeks later.
At a news conference last Tuesday, government Brian Kemp said his office had received reports that some major suppliers were holding back supplies. He warned them to give doses ‘quickly’, otherwise he would seize they.
“If it takes me to fire my pickup and do it myself, then so be it,” Kemp said.
Georgia residents frustratedly called his office about the rollout and the offer.
“Yes, the phone lines will be busy. Yes, the sites will definitely crash,” Kemp said. “It’s definitely frustrating. I would prefer that we have enough stock, and that we can all be vaccinated right away.”
Dr. Lisa Piercey, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Health, told the federal government that websites in her state had the vaccination five times as many people as now.
“We’re fine,” Piercey told CNN. “The only thing we miss is the offer.”
Piercey said she made it clear to her clinics that they should not hold anything back. Their only goal, according to her, should be “to run out of the vaccine.”
“It’s completely unethical for us to sit on it,” Piercey said.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz on Monday called on the federal government to release more doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, saying his state currently “has a very limited supply.”
According to Tricia Foster, chief operating officer for Michigan’s Covid-19 response, Michigan uses the National Guard to expand the work of local clinics and the state vaccinates people faster.
“We’ve jumped significantly in our doses,” Foster said.
Foster said the CDC numbers do not fully capture Michigan’s efforts. As in other states, part of the state grant was set aside for a long-term vaccination program run by the federal government in Michigan. The program receives approximately 245,000 of the total doses from the state. The federal government reports its numbers only twice a week.
Michigan says she wants a much larger supply and is “ready, willing and able” to vaccinate more. Gretchen Whitmer, governor of Michigan, asked to buy vaccine doses directly of manufacturers, other than those contracted by the federal government, to meet the state demand.
The Government of New York, Andrew Cuomo, blamed the delays of the federal government. Cuomo said Monday he had written to the president of Pfizer asking to buy doses directly.
“After I and seven other governors called on the Trump administration to release more doses, HHS secretary Alex Azar said relief was on the way. To date, however, the federal government has not “this promise did not work – in fact New York will receive only 250,000 doses this week, 50,000 less than the previous week,” the letter reads.
Pfizer has replied that it is open to co-operation with the federal government on a distribution model that “gives as many Americans as possible access to our vaccine. However, before we can sell directly to state governments, HHS will have to approve it.” FDA approved Pfizer. “
Vaccinations cannot come soon enough. The incoming director of the CDC, dr. Rochelle Walensky, said on Sunday that the country could have a few dark weeks ahead, and predicts half a million deaths in the US by mid-February.
CNN’s Keri Enriquez, Diedre McPhillips, Amanda Watts, Amanda Sealy and Jacqueline Howard contributed to this report