[ad_1]
President Biden said on Tuesday that masks are “the best defense against COVID-19” in the coming months as his administration acquires a sufficient supply of vaccines to clear the majority of Americans.
Biden revealed that the federal government will buy an additional 100 million doses of vaccine from Pfizer and Moderna as part of its efforts to scale up the unprecedented vaccination campaign. Even with the acquisition of more vaccine supplies, Biden warned that distribution will take time and that other precautions, such as wearing masks, should remain a priority for Americans.
“The brutal truth is that it’s going to be months before the majority of Americans get vaccinated – months,” Biden said. “In the coming months, masks, not vaccines, are the best defense against COVID-19. Experts say wearing masks by April alone would save 50,000 lives that would otherwise die if we didn’t wear them.
Biden issued an executive order on his first day in office requiring masks to be worn on federal lands. He has repeatedly called on governors to impose statewide mandates until the pandemic is under control.
Between its existing supply and additional purchases, the federal government will have sufficient doses for 300 million Americans by early fall, according to Biden. The administration plans to increase the distribution of vaccine doses in states to at least 10 million doses per week, up from 8.6 million under the current plan.
In addition, states will receive a “three week forecast” on what to expect in terms of supply.
“We’re both going to increase supply in the short term by over 15% and give our states and local partners more certainty that deliveries are coming,” Biden said. “These two steps will increase our chances of reaching or exceeding, God willing, the ambitious goal of 100 million shots in 100 days.”
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Biden credited the “previous administration” as well as the scientific community for their efforts in facilitating the development of viable vaccines. At the same time, the president said the Trump administration had failed to cooperate during the transition and noted that the vaccination program inherited from its predecessor was “in worse condition than expected.”
More than 424,000 Americans have died from COVID-19 to date, according to the Johns Hopkins University database. The death toll is expected to exceed 500,000 by the end of February.
[ad_2]
Source link