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The U.S. government has yet to provide guidance on who should receive the coronavirus vaccine first, but an official believes “vulnerable” populations should be given priority over essential workers.
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar spoke about the COVID-19 vaccine on Sunday morning talk shows, outlining a possible timeline for approval and distribution.
George Stephanopolous, host of ABC’s “This Week,” asked Azar about the issue of prioritizing vaccinations, citing a “tension” between giving the vaccine first to essential workers or vulnerable communities.
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar speaks during a press conference in the White House briefing room in Washington on Friday, November 20, 2020 (AP Photo / Susan Walsh)
Azar said he would prioritize vulnerable populations.
“I am very concerned about the vulnerable, personally,” Azar said.
“I am very concerned about the elderly, I am very concerned about the ethnic and racial minority groups who have suffered such a disproportionate impact in terms of the burden of this disease, but I will get the best advice possible here before making any recommendations. to our governors.
Azar stressed that the governors will make the final decision on the prioritization of vaccine distribution.
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In the meantime, Azar urged Americans to maintain basic health policies: wear face covers and maintain social distancing. Azar said people let their guard down when they are at home or around friends and family, and staying vigilant will be vital.
“We see these cases booming in the US, but also in Germany, France, UK and Spain – it’s about behavior and cold weather,” Azar told Fox host. News Sunday, Chris Wallace. “People go inside, they don’t care about the three W’s, they don’t wear face covers.”
The three W’s, according to the agency, are: wear a mask, wait 6 feet away, and wash your hands.
“We are engaged in inner behaviors where we let our guard down,” Azar added. “We need people to renew their commitment.”
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Azar also called the accusations of “problems” with the vaccine distribution plan “absurd.”
“We have comprehensive plans from the CDC, working with 64 public health jurisdictions across the country, because our governors made very detailed plans that we worked with them,” Azar told Wallace.
“We take advantage of our retail pharmacies, our hospitals, our public health services, our community health centers,” he added. “It’s micromanaged by the US military as well as our incredible private sector.”
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“We are leveraging the systems that are known and work here in the United States,” he said.
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