Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Biden Bumps Up Vaccination Target to 1.5 Million Shots A Day
The New York Times: Biden Raises Daily Vaccination Target And Extends Travel Bans
President Biden, under pressure to speed up the pace of coronavirus vaccination, said on Monday that he was now aiming for the United States to administer 1.5 million vaccine doses a day — a goal that is 50 percent higher than his initial target but one that the nation already appears on track to meet. The president made his comments just hours after he banned travel by noncitizens into the United States from South Africa because of concern about a coronavirus variant spreading in that country, and moved to extend similar bans imposed by his predecessor on travel from Brazil, Europe and Britain. Those bans were set to expire on Tuesday. (Stolberg, 1/25)
The Washington Post: Biden Now Hopes For 1.5 Million Vaccinations A Day
Overall, Biden on Monday projected a relatively optimistic timeline, even while acknowledging the death toll from covid-19 could eventually reach 600,000 or even 660,000. By spring, he said, everyone who wants a vaccine should be able to get one. “It’s going to be a logistical challenge that exceeds anything we’ve ever tried in this country, but I think we can do that,” he said. “I feel confident that by summer we’re going to be well on our way to heading toward herd immunity. I feel good about where we’re going, and I think we can get it done.” (Linskey, 1/25)
Politico: Biden Sets Sights On 1.5 Million Vaccinations A Day
“I think we may be able to get that to 1.5 million [shots] a day, rather than 1 million a day. But we have to meet that goal of a million a day,” Biden told reporters after signing an executive order tightening “Buy American” rules. Biden said he was optimistic that the vaccine would be readily available to those who want it by sometime in the spring. (Niedzwiadek, 1/25)
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The Hill: Biden Says Anyone Who Wants Vaccine May Be Able To Get It By Spring
President Biden said he thinks any American who wants a COVID-19 vaccine should be able to get one by the spring. “I think we’ll be able to do that this spring,” Biden said in a press conference with reporters. “It’s going to be a logistical challenge that exceeds anything we’ve ever tried in this country, but I think we can do that,” he added. (Hellmann, 1/25)
