States signal slow pace of COVID-19 vaccine shipments

Several governors on Friday accused the Administration of President Donald Trump of not giving correct information to states about the number of doses of COVID-19 vaccines they can expect to receive, after he gave instructions to administer them to all people. people over 65 and other vulnerable groups.

"This is so unacceptable that you can hardly imagine it," said Minnesota Governor Tim Waltz, a Democrat, who is part of this group outraged by the federal government.

"What should states do when they have lied to them and made all their plans around this?"

added. 

Michael Pratt, a spokesman for the Department of Health, said states may have mixed up their expectations, but

there has been no reduction in the doses

that have been sent to them.

Residents line up to get vaccinated against COVID-19 at the Harlem Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, a nursing home, on Friday, Jan.15, 2021, in the neighborhood of Harlem, New York.

President-elect Joe Biden alluded to Friday's tensions and promised to better communicate with states so they know how much vaccine will arrive and when.

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As of Friday, the government had distributed more than 31 million doses to states, US territories and large cities.

S

and they had been administered a dose 12300000

: CDC.

Pratt noted that the doses that were being held in reserve to provide the second injections were released last week.

However, it's unclear if all were shipped before the Trump Administration held earlier this week that states should open vaccination to more people.

The spokesperson said states are getting the second doses they need and the number of first doses is stable.

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The US company Pfizer assured that it is working around the clock to produce millions of doses a day and added: "We do not foresee any problems in fulfilling the commitments we have made" for supplies destined for Operation Warp Speed.

Moderna did not immediately respond to questions about its supplies from The Associated Press news agency.

The new strain

Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned that a new, more infectious variant of the coronavirus originally detected in the UK is likely to become the dominant strain in the country in March.

The CDC cautioned that the variant is about 50% more contagious.

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"We want to raise the alarm," said Dr. Jay Butler, CDC's deputy director of infectious diseases.

The variant has been detected in

12 states and diagnosed in only 76 reported cases,

according to the CDC.

However, it is likely more widespread in the country than the figures suggest, the scientists cautioned.

Complaints from some states

Oregon announced earlier this week that it would expand vaccine eligibility to about 760,000 residents age 65 and older, as well as teachers and child care providers.

But Democratic Gov. Kate Brown said those plans are now in disarray due to "nationwide deception" by the Administration.

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Brown assured on his Twitter account that General Gustave F. Perna, who heads Operation Warp Speed, told him that the states will not receive more shipments of vaccines from the national reserve next week "because there is no federal reserve of doses."

As a result of what she called "a cruel joke," Brown said the

state will now postpone vaccinating older people until February 8

, rather than January 23, and initially limit it to people age 80 and older. plus.

This is happening amid an increase in cases of the disease.

In California, where 3,675 people have died from COVID-19 in the past week, authorities are rushing to help the county's overwhelmed coroners.

The Office of Emergency Services said it has secured 98 refrigerated trailers to serve as makeshift morgues.

With information from AP.