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100 million doses of vaccines.
The United States hit the magic number Joe Biden set for his first 100 days in the presidency on Friday and hit it in half the time.
And it is that after the first few months of mess and confusion, the coronavirus vaccination process in the United States has reached cruising speed and is set to accelerate significantly in the weeks to come.
These are some of the key points of this fast race.
1. May as the horizon
According to data from the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), until March 12, they had been administered 93,721,290 doses in the country and 32,904,161 citizens they were fully vaccinated.
Currently some 2.2 million doses per day and almost 65% of adults 65 years of age and older received at least the first dose.
There are a series of criteria to be eligible for the vaccine which vary slightly by state and are constantly updated, but which can be summarized in the following points:
- People 65 and over
- Residents of centers for the elderly and the staff working there
- Health workers in direct contact with patients
- Firefighters and security forces personnel
- People with health problems who have a medical report
- Teaching staff at certain levels
Biden insisted on Thursday that his goal is to Any adult residing in the country has the right to receive the vaccine in May.
To do so, the president urged state governors to relax the current list of requirements, especially age limits, by then.
Alaska became the first state in the country to eliminate priority groups on Tuesday. Michigan and Wisconsin have announced they will relax their rules in the coming weeks.
It should be noted that eligibility for opening does not mean that everyone will be able to get vaccinated in May. You will still have to make an appointment and wait your turn.
2. More staff and more locations
Another way to speed up vaccination is to increase the number of centers where vaccines can be administered and the staff trained to do so.
In this sense, Biden announced this Friday that professionals love dentists, veterinarians and healthcare students will be recruited to help with the national vaccination effort.
“The Department of Health and Human Services will launch a new portal to help individuals determine where they can register to volunteer to administer vaccines,” said Marcella Nuez-Smith, director of said government agency .
With this new measure, more categories of “vaccinators” have been authorized, including dentists, paramedics, midwives, optometrists, paramedics, attending physicians, pediatricians, respiratory therapists and veterinarians.
Students in these categories are also allowed.
3. How was this made possible
In the United States and the rest of the world, the main factor limiting the number of inoculations is the slow distribution of vaccines due to lack of stocks.
In the case of the United States, the supply shortage is expected to persist throughout March, but is expected to increase significantly in April.
The federal government has called on states to prepare to administer some 25 million doses per week early next month.
Biden announced the acquisition of an additional 100 million doses of the vaccine from Johnson & Johnson, which last week partnered with drugmaker Merck to speed up distribution.
“We are like in time of war, the extra doses give us maximum flexibility for the next few months, ”said Andy Slavitt, White House adviser for Covid-19 Response.
In his first 50 days in office, Slavitt said, Biden ordered enough vaccines to make sure they were on schedule.
Accelerating the process by May will be possible in large part thanks to the release of funds, much of which is contained in the bailout approved by the U.S. Congress this week and promulgated by the president on Thursday.
4. “America first”
The Biden administration’s ambitious vaccination campaign is not without its criticisms and obstacles.
In the United States, a large part of the population is still hesitant to get vaccinated.
And not just minority groups of people who believe in conspiracy theories.
A recent survey suggested that about half of Republicans are skeptical to the vaccine.
If your doubts translate into inaction, Biden’s promises – the reopening of schools, the ability to travel, and the July 4 celebrations – will not be kept.
Thus, the president insisted Thursday on the fact that citizens “must do their part” to be able to emerge from the pandemic.
And from outside the United States, the criticism comes for what is seen as a “selfish hoarding” of vaccines that puts its citizens ahead of the rest of the world and leaves other countries at a disadvantage.
“The United States must listen to us because the only one that pays attention to us is China,” lamented Uruguayan Foreign Minister Francisco Bustillo during an event with his Mercosur counterparts in Washington DC.
5. The date of “independence”
Last year, most Americans were forced to forgo the parades, fireworks and celebrations characteristic of their national day on July 4, the date that marks independence from the British.
In his speech on Thursday, Biden said he also isn’t planning major events this year, but hopes there may be gatherings of family and friends.
“If we do this together, by July 4th, you, your family and friends may be able to meet in the yard or in the neighborhood to have a meal or a barbecue and celebrate Independence Day. », He sponsored.
“After a long and difficult year, It will be a really special independence day, in which we not only celebrate our independence as a nation, but also begin to mark our independence in the face of this virus, ”he stressed.
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