Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Enough Vaccine By End Of May: Biden Announces Fast-Tracked Timeline
The Wall Street Journal: Biden Expects U.S. To Have Covid-19 Vaccines For All Adults By End Of May
President Biden said the U.S. would have enough Covid-19 vaccines for all American adults by the end of May, two months earlier than he had previously said, after regulators authorized the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine and Merck & Co. agreed to help produce it. Mr. Biden also called on states to give priority to teachers, school staff and child-care workers for vaccinations, as virtual learning continues for many students across the country. Several teachers unions have made vaccinations part of their negotiations for returning to in-person teaching. Mr. Biden said 30 states are giving priority to such workers for the shot. (Parti and Siddiqui, 3/2)
CIDRAP: With COVID Vaccine Maker Pact, Biden Vows Wide Vaccine Access By May
Biden will invoke the Defense Production Act to equip two Merck facilities to the standards necessary to produce the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, and is asking the Department of Defense to supply logistical support to Johnson & Johnson. Biden also said Johnson & Johnson will now be operating its vaccine facilities around the clock. Jen Psaki, White House press secretary, also announced today that the federal government was increasing states' vaccine supply next week to 15.2 million doses per week, up from 14.5 million this week. Of shots distributed this week, 2.8 million are the J&J vaccine. (Soucheray, 3/2)
The New York Times: Biden Vows Enough Vaccine ‘For Every Adult American’ By End Of May
In a brief speech at the White House, Mr. Biden said his administration had provided support to Johnson & Johnson that would enable the company and its partners to make vaccines around the clock. The administration had also brokered a deal in which the pharmaceutical giant Merck & Co. would help manufacture the new Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine. Merck is the world’s second-largest vaccine manufacturer, though its own attempt at a coronavirus vaccine was unsuccessful. Officials described the partnership between the two competitors as historic and said it harks back to Mr. Biden’s vision of a wartime effort to fight the coronavirus, similar to the manufacturing campaigns when Franklin D. Roosevelt was president. (Stolberg, LaFraniere, Thomas and Shear, 3/2)
Politico: Biden Accelerates Vaccination Timeline After Manufacturing Deal
"About three weeks ago we were able to say that we'll have enough vaccine supply for adults by the end of July. I'm pleased to announced today, as the consequence of a stepped-up process that I've ordered and just outlined, this country will have enough vaccine supply ... for every adult in America by the end of May," Biden said in remarks delivered at the White House. The availability of vaccines is one piece of the massive effort to protect people against the coronavirus pandemic, along with actually getting shots in arms and assuring people they are safe and effective. In the meantime, Biden urged Americans to keep up with basic health measures such as mask wearing and social distancing. (Owermohle and Cancryn, 3/2)
CNBC: Covid Vaccine: White House Says U.S. Will Have Enough For Every Adult By End Of May
Biden’s good news — including that he’s ahead of schedule on the goal of administering 100 million Covid shots in his first 100 days — was tempered by a number of lingering unknowns surrounding the fight against the virus. “This fight is far from over,” Biden said in his speech, noting that new Covid variants are spreading in the U.S. “Things may get worse again.” (Breuninger, 3/2)
The Washington Post: Biden Promises Coronavirus Vaccine By May As States Reopen
At the end of his remarks, Biden sought to project a sense of optimism when asked by reporters when he thought the nation would return to normal. After saying he had been “cautioned” not to offer such predictions, because of the uncertainty of the virus, he answered with a note of hopefulness: “My hope is by this time next year, we’re going to be back to normal,” the president said. (Wan, Shammas, Parker and Meckler, 3/2)
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CNBC: J&J CEO On Merck Vaccine Deal: 'Extraordinary Times Take Extraordinary Efforts'
Johnson & Johnson CEO Alex Gorsky discussed Tuesday the company’s unprecedented partnership with rival Merck to boost production of its Covid-19 vaccine. “Extraordinary times take extraordinary efforts,” Gorsky told CNBC’s Jim Cramer in a “Mad Money” interview. (Clifford, 3/2)
