President Joe Biden’s announcement comes after Johnson & Johnson makes a deal with the White House to increase supply.
What We Know:
- On Tuesday, March 2nd, Joe Biden said the United States of America would have sufficient COVID-19 vaccines for every adult by the end of May. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Johnson & Johnson’s single-shot vaccine on March 1. It significantly accelerates his original timeline, in which he said vaccines should be ready by July. However, this does not mean that all American adults will receive shots by May 31. In fact, it may take longer for all the doses to be administered.
- The quicker production of the vaccine is a result of the pharmaceutical company’s Merck & Co’s agreement with the White House. The business’s alliance with the White House will produce more shots by boosting a “fill-finish” capacity. This will be done when the doses are put into vials. It will elevate the availability of the components.
- The White House is assisting Merck facilities by utilizing the Defense Production Act. The decision came into fruition when the Biden administration realized Johnson & Johnson might fall short of their manufacturing incentives. Merck agreed to dedicate two of its locations to help Johnson & Johnson with the production and distribution of doses.
- Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine is recommended for adults eighteen and older. The President is suggesting more essential workers be given the prescription first. In his statement, Biden informed the public that he would encourage states to prioritize teachers in their vaccination efforts. This assures his commitment to returning students to the traditional classroom setting.
The new information from the White House speeds up the time millions of citizens wait in obtaining their doses, thus preparing society earlier for exiting the pandemic.
