US President, Donald Trump has signed an executive order which his administration says will ensure that “Americans receive priority access” to the new coronavirus vaccines procured by the US government before they are made available to other nations.
A senior administration official additionally confirmed that the vaccine will be given for free to US citizens.
“No American will have to pay a penny out of his or her pocket,” the official told reporters.
The Trump administration said it is confident the US will have enough doses of vaccine to inoculate everyone who wants it by mid-2021.
The executive order also sets up a framework for US government agencies to help other countries obtain the vaccines once domestic demand is met. There is also a plan to donate vaccine doses to poor countries.
The order, in line with Trump’s “America First” policy, was signed during a summit on Operation Warp Speed — the White House’s vaccine program.
President Donald Trump on his part credited his administration’s Operation Warp Speed programme for contributing to the quick development of a vaccine.
“Nobody thought it was even remotely possible to do what we’ve done in a period of less than nine months. Something that – just not even thinkable,” Trump said. “And we took a lot of heat when we said this is our goal.”
At the summit, the administration also explained its distribution strategy and educated the public about the vaccines, attempting to instil confidence so that people agree to be inoculated when doses are available.
Meanwhile, President-elect Joe Biden has promised to distribute “100 million shots” of vaccine in the “first 100 days” of his presidency.
Speaking from his transition headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware, President-elect Biden said his top goals, developed with US infectious disease scientist, Dr Anthony Fauci, involve distributing vaccines, reopening schools and requiring mask-wearing “where possible”.
“We did not get into this mess quickly. We’re not going to get out of it quickly. It’s going to take some time. But I’m absolutely convinced in 100 days we can change the course of the disease,” he said.
Mr Biden said his team’s “initial review” of plans in place under the Trump administration shows additional funding from Congress will be necessary for vaccine distribution.
“Without urgent action by this Congress this month to put sufficient resources into vaccine distribution and manufacturing … there’s a real chance that, after an early round of vaccinations, the effort will slow and stall.”
The President-elect also repeated that he would impose a nationwide mandate requiring people to wear masks in federal buildings, on federal lands and during interstate travel. Biden added that he would further ask the American public to voluntarily wear masks for 100 days.
“As a new president, I’m going to speak directly to the American people. See what I’m saying now: ‘We need your help. Wear a mask for just 100 days’.”
Biden said he was “encouraged” by signs of bipartisan agreement in the US Congress on a new $908bn round of COVID-19 funding and urged Republican and Democratic leaders to conclude work on a bill before the end of the year.
