PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) -- President Joe Biden said Tuesday that the United States will have enough doses of COVID-19 vaccine for every adult by the end of May. This is two months earlier than initial White House projections, though it does not mean everyone who wants a shot will be vaccinated by that time.
"We’re making progress from the mess we inherited. We’re moving in the right direction. Today’s announcements are a huge step in our effort to beat this pandemic,” the president said at the White House on Tuesday after announcing
drugmaker Johnson & Johnson will boost production of its single shot COVID-19 vaccine, not only at its own facilities, but with the help of a competitor, Merck.
"This is the type of collaboration between companies we saw in World War II," Biden said.
The president said his administration invoked the Defense Production Act to retrofit two Merck facilities to manufacturer the J&J vaccine. He also said the act would lead to the companies getting all the machinery and supplies they need. The Department of Defense will also help with logistical support.
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This comes on top of the efforts by Pfizer and Moderna to fulfill their vaccine orders from the U.S. government, which will result in doses being available for every adult in the country by the end of May instead of July according to the president.
"Now, with this increased production of three safe and effective vaccines, we have an opportunity to help address the urgent national need more quickly and getting our schools back open safely," Biden said.
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The president, as part of the effort to reopen schools, said he was directing states to prioritize teacher vaccinations.
"Let’s treat in-person learning like an essential service that it is," Biden said. "And that means getting essential workers who provide that service -- educators, school staff, childcare workers -- get them vaccinated immediately."
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The goal is to get every teacher who wants a vaccine at least one dose of the vaccine by the end of March. In Pennsylvania, Gov. Tom Wolf is scheduled, on Wednesday, to release his plan to get teachers vaccinated. In New Jersey, Gov. Phil Murphy announced earlier in the week that teachers and support staff would eligible to be vaccinated starting on March 15.
Even with the positive vaccine news, the president warned against rolling back restrictions too soon, adding that people should still wear masks, maintain distancing and get vaccinated when it is their turn. He is echoing the message that other top health officials, including CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky, are trying to send.
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Walensky, on Monday, said there was a slight uptick of positive cases and deaths and coronavirus variants could lead to a possible fourth surge of the virus.
"Now is not the time to let our guard down. People’s lives are at stake," Biden said.