The new director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Rochelle Walensky, is predicting it could take a little longer before the COVID-19 vaccine makes it to every pharmacy.
“Today’s” Savannah Guthrie asked Walensky for a timeline on when she believes the vaccine will be available to every American.
“I’m going to tell you the truth here. I don’t think by late February we’re going to have the vaccine in every pharmacy in this country,” Walensky said.
She added, “We said 100 million doses in the first 100 days, and we’re going to stick to that plan, but I also want to be very cognizant of the fact that after 100 days, there are still a lot of Americans who need vaccine.”
Watch her remarks below:
“I’m going to tell you the truth here. I don’t think by late February we’re going to have vaccine in every pharmacy in this country.” –@CDCDirector pic.twitter.com/G8obT08Cm3
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) January 21, 2021
Guthrie pressed Walensky on how the Biden administration plans to achieve the goal of 100 million doses in 100 days.
“We recognize this is the most immediate emergency, to get this country back to health. There are numerous plans as we think forward as to how we’re going to get people vaccinated,” Walensky said.
She continued, “We need to make sure that we titrate the amount of vaccine that we have for the amount of people who are eligible so we don’t have vaccine on the shelves and yet we don’t see the footage of these long lines. So we really need to match that and expand our eligibility to make sure that it fits with the vaccine supply.”
Walensky explained they also need to make sure there are enough vaccinators.
Watch more of her comments below:
“We recognize this is the most immediate emergency: to get this country back to health.” -New @CDCDirector Rochelle Walensky pic.twitter.com/kGQ62eL8CK
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) January 21, 2021
During his inauguration speech, President Joe Biden acknowledged the severity of the pandemic, as IJR reported.
“We’re entering what may be the toughest and deadliest period of the virus and must set aside politics and finally face this pandemic as one nation,” he said.
Biden is expected to partner with state and local governments to form additional vaccination spots.
He plans to deploy thousands of clinical personnel to increase the number of vaccinations.
