Brett Giroir: By the End of Next Week We’ll Be at About 19.9 Million of Vaccines Distributed
MITCHELL: “The Coronavirus continues to spread uncontrolled with 19,4 million cases in the U.S.. December now the deadliest month since the pandemic began. This as the rollout of vaccines is much slower than promised with delays at both the federal and state levels. This morning Dr. Anthony Fauci addressing the shortfall.”
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FAUCI: “I mean, even if you undercount — 2 million is an undercount, how much undercount could it be. So, we are below where we want to be. ... I believe that as we get into January we are going to see an increase in the momentum.”
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MITCHELL: “And just an hour ago Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris receiving her first dose of the vaccine.”
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HARRIS: “I urge everyone when it is your turn get vaccinated. It’s about saving your life, the life of your family members and the life of your community.”
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MITCHELL: “This as President-Elect Biden is expected to point the finger at the Trump administration for the slow pace of vaccinations. Joining me now is Admiral Brett Giroir, Assistant Secretary of Health at the Department of Health and Human Services, also testing coordinator for the White House Coronavirus Task Force. Admiral, welcome back. Thank you very much for being with us. Front and center of course are the vaccines. Dr. Fauci acknowledging in this morning we’re below what we’ve wanted to be in administering the vaccine in the country, Operation Warp Speed wanted 20 million doses by the end of the year, shots in arms. Now that’s only days from now. We’re at just more than 2.1 million even with a lag in state reporting which is the case, there are numbers back to the CD.C. that is a major miss. So what’s happened?”
GIROIR: “So thanks for having me on and I appreciate the opportunity to clarify where we are. So by the end of this week we will have distributed about 15.6 million doses to the states, that means through the Fed Ex and UPS trucks to the states. We announced this morning distribution of another 4.2 plus million that will occur next week, so that by the end of next week we’ll be at about 19.9 million distributed. You are correct, the numbers reported 2.1 million vaccines in people’s arms. We know that’s underreported because there is a 3 to 7 day delay, but we expect that to ramp up. Remember last week with the holiday week, even in hospitals that’s slower than normal, and it’s only been 15 days since the first shot got in people’s arms. So we do expect that the ramp up, the state plans will ramp up over the next week or two. We expect that to accelerate.”
MITCHELL: “But some experts are saying that the National Guard should be used to set a vaccination sites. Why not do this? Because the problem is not just in the distribution, the problem is getting it once it gets to the states, that they —“
GIROIR: “So —“
MITCHELL: “— clearly are overwhelmed, they’ve bad months and months of pandemic, they don’t have resources, they don’t have money, and they’re dealing with the cases themselves as much as trying to get these — these shots into people — people’s arms.”
GIROIR: “Well, the experts are right, many states are using the National Guard. The CD.C. had plans starting in September when the states needed to start their plan — their planning process with the playbook that CD.C. provided. Many states are using the National Guard. I issued prep up guidance that allows EMTs and the Guard to provide that. It’s really a state by state basis. Most states are using retail, they’re using health systems are also using the Guard, that’s the way this works best. And — and — and you’re right, they are using those resources as they need it. Right now pretty straightforward, because it’s nursing homes and hospitals. As we roll into the next phase is when you’ll see a more wider vaccine program for example like in Texas it’s anyone over 65 and those with chronic conditions. So you’re going to see diversity of plants, diversity of programs as the states move forward.”
