By David Ingram - NBC News
The Secretary of Health, Alex Azar, recommended to the states this Wednesday that they begin to
vaccinate against COVID-19 to the lower priority groups
in the event that the doses they have available are unused.
"It would be much better to vaccinate some lower-priority people than to let the doses stay in storage while states try to manage the process," Azar said at a press conference in which he expressed frustration at the pace at which they are applying vaccinations.
"
Faster Administration could save lives right now
, which means that we cannot let the process of perfection become our enemy," he said.
[Follow the latest news on the coronavirus pandemic]
Thus, states will have the support of the Trump Administration to set aside the recommendation on vaccination priorities, and should not worry too much if hospitals or health care providers use doses outside of what was initially stipulated.
About
17.3 million doses of vaccines have been distributed to states, while 5.3 million people have received a
starting
dose
, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Azar cited Florida as an example of a state that had adjusted the criteria for who is eligible to receive a dose of vaccine, so that
the limited supply reaches the people in need
.
[There is no vaccine for everyone yet: giving only half the necessary dose may be the solution]
The governor of this state, Republican Ron DeSantis, said two weeks ago that he would make vaccines available to people over 65, prioritizing them over younger ones who have jobs that put them at risk.
The decision caused bewilderment and some disappointment, especially among people who have not gotten dates.
There has been a national debate about who should take priority for vaccines.
Although the CDC published the guidelines, it is ultimately up to the states to determine where people are in line and how strictly the order should be enforced.
COVID-19: Trump Says Deaths Are "Exaggerated" But Fauci Insists They Are "Real"
Jan. 4, 202104: 55
New Jersey Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli said Wednesday that her status would not be rigid going through different priority groups.
"
It is not necessary to vaccinate all individuals in one phase before starting the next,
" he said at a press conference.
"In fact, the phases can overlap," he added, "the movement between phases will be very fluid. One phase will overlap another. We will not wait for all individuals in a phase to be vaccinated before we do it to additional groups."
