Although figures from a federal COVID-19 detection system are likely to be underestimated due to delays, by the end of the year the US is likely to still fall short of the original target of 20 million individuals vaccinated against the new coronavirus.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) tracker, nearly 2 million people received the first sting in a two-dose treatment, and more than 9.5 million doses were distributed to states in total.
Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services Administration, Brett Giroir, outlined the massive vaccination effort during a Monday section on ABC’s “Good Morning America.”
Adm. Brett Giroir, director of the U.S. Coronavirus Diagnostic Test, testified at a House subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis Trial on July 31, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Kevin Dietsch-Pool / Getty Images)
“The figure of 2 million is probably an underestimation. We have distributed 10.8 million doses to the states,” Giroir said. “The number of 2 million is delayed three to seven days. We definitely expect it to be a multiple of 2 million.”
‘We are going to hand out another 4.7 million this week, so by the end of this week in the hands of the states [will be] more than 15.5 million doses. ‘
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Giroir also elaborated on plans to distribute 20 million doses to states by the first week in January, although by the end of 2020 the scheme does not yet have 20 million doses in Americans’ arms.
“It’s moving together, it’s turning around, the end of the pandemic is in sight, but we have a lot of work to do and literally thousands of lives depend on how well we follow the simple measures for public health until the vaccine spreads widely. can be, “he said.
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Health officials have pleaded with the public to take mitigation measures, such as wearing masks and social removal, especially amid what has been called the worst COVID-19 month to date, with at least 5.3 million cases occurring in December alone reported, according to a report cited by GMA.
In addition, Scott Gottlieb, former commissioner for food and drug administration, spoke of the slower pace of vaccinations during an interview Sunday on CBS News’ Face the Nation.
“The pace is slower than said, I think it’s probably realistic to think the pace is going to be a little slower, especially if we try to move through tough vaccinations next month.”
“The idea that we’ll get up to 20 million vaccinations by the end of the year is probably unrealistic at this point,” Gottlieb said.
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A partnership between the largest pharmacy chains Walgreens and CVS to provide shots in long-term care facilities in the states has a fairly large footprint, ‘Gottlieb said, but follows the struggle to endanger medical workers and residents in nursing homes.
“It shows that we need to invest more in these efforts,” Gottlieb added.