President-elect Joe Biden slammed the Trump administration Tuesday for its slow rollout of the U.S. vaccination program.
President-elect Joe Biden: “I’ve directed my team to prepare a much more aggressive effort, with more federal involvement and leadership to get things back on track. We will find ways to boost the pace of vaccinations.”
The U.S. has vaccinated around 2 million people, far short of its goal to vaccinate 20 million people before the end of the year. Biden reiterated his plan to ask Americans to wear a mask for the first 100 days of his administration. He said he is working with local officials to implement mask mandates across the country and will require mask-wearing for federal workers, in federal facilities, and for communal interstate travel. Meanwhile, Vice President-elect Kamala Harris received her first dose of the Moderna vaccine Tuesday.
Vice President-elect Kamala Harris: “I trust the scientists. And it is the scientists who created and approved this vaccine. So 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.”
Harris received her shot from nurse Patricia Cummings, the daughter of Guyanese immigrants. In other vaccine news, Novavax has launched the late-stage U.S. trial of its COVID vaccine.