- The Biden administration has upped its initial COVID-19 vaccination goal to 200 million doses administered in the first 100 days of his term.
- The White House also outlined a four-part plan to increase the availability and access to vaccination sites.
- Currently, 46 states are track to open vaccine eligibility to all adults by May 1.
- The vaccine rollout, however, is continuing to play out very differently in individual states based on available supplies and local vaccine hesitancy.
The White House has set new goalposts in the race to get more Americans vaccinated against COVID-19 as cases are rising again.
On March 29, President Biden laid out a four-point plan to administer 200 million vaccine doses within the first 100 days of his term.
Key points of the plan include:
- Providing vaccination sites within 5 miles of the homes of 90 percent of Americans by April 19.
- Doubling the number of pharmacies where eligible people can get a vaccine.
- Opening 12 more federally run mass vaccination sites across the country.
- Funding transportation options for older adults and people with disabilities so they can access available vaccination sites.
All of this comes on top of the president directing states to open up vaccine eligibility to all adults by May 1.
The White House COVID-19 Response Team says about half the states are expected to meet that target by April 15, 2 weeks ahead of schedule.
So far, 46 states and the District of Columbia have said they plan to make the May 1 date.
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Experts say the vaccine rollout has improved on the federal side.
“My colleagues at the state health department tell me that delivery of vaccines is becoming more regular and predictable, which makes it easier to plan clinics,” said William Schaffner, MD, professor of preventive medicine and infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.
But other states are anticipating disruptions.
Source: healthline