Biden puts pen to paper with goal of putting more COVID shots in arms
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — A major change on the federal level in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic comes as Indiana’s vaccine supply lags.
In his first day in office, President Joe Biden signed a series of executive orders aimed at tackling COVID-19. He hopes to vaccinate 100 million people in his first 100 days.
He said the Federal Emergency Management Agency is working to set up community vaccination centers across the country. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is in the process of launching a federal pharmacy program to make vaccines available at CVS, Walgreens and other retailers.
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Biden said part of the campaign would expand the pool of health care workers who can administer the vaccine. He said his goal is for 100 federal vaccination centers to be operational within the next month.
It’s not totally clear how adding pharmacy vaccination sites will impact Indiana’s supply and the eligibility of people wanting to get vaccinated. Indiana is currently vaccinating Hoosiers 70 and older.
The Indiana State Teachers Association (ISTA) is hopeful that if things go smoothly, educators won’t wait long for their first doses.
Jennifer Smith-Margraf, ISTA vice president, said, “They are really talking about putting in place what we’ve been lacking which is a federal plan to really get out there and supplement what is going on in the states to make sure everyone who wants a vaccine can get a vaccine in a much more timely manner.”
Biden said his plan will certainly speed up the process, but other efforts including mask wearing and COVID policies for international travel will be equally as important. “The brutal truth is it’s going to take months before we can get the majority of Americans vaccinated,” the president said.
Biden also warned that the U.S. death toll will likely surpass half a million by February.
Indiana State Department of Health reported Thursday that 64 more Hoosiers have died from COVID-19, for a total of 9,218. A total of 601,937 Hoosiers have tested positive for COVID-19.