The Trump administration is changing the way coronavirus vaccines are allocated to states, Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar said on Tuesday.
Instead of distributing vaccines based on the population, the administration will allocate doses depending on how quickly the vaccines can be administered, as well as the size of the population over the age of 65, Azar said.
States will have two weeks to prepare for the change, said Azar, who should give them time to improve their reporting to a federal database.
Azar indicated that part of the current slowdown is the result of data reporting problems, and changing the allocation method will provide them with an incentive to address these issues.
“This new system provides a strong incentive for states to ensure that all vaccinations are reported promptly, which they are not currently doing,” Azar told reporters during a news conference.
“It gives states a strong incentive to ensure that the doses will work by protecting people, rather than sitting on shelves or in freezers,” he added.
The policy change would reward states that inoculate people quickly and happen while senior government officials have complained about the slow pace of vaccinations.
Azar said that the strict observance of the states to the eligibility criteria led to a blockage. The administration’s Operation Warp Speed has provided nearly 25 million first doses in the last month, but just over 9 million people have been vaccinated.
“We need doses that go where they will be given quickly and where they will protect the most vulnerable,” Azar said.
To this end, the administration also pushes states to shoot anyone who is 65 years of age or older, regardless of the underlying health conditions, and anyone under the age of 65 with a underlying condition. . The administration will also release the second dose of vaccines it had in reserve, in an effort to double the number of doses available.
Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Robert Redfield
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“It will be a difficult January and probably February, but with a vaccine and the new therapies we have, there is a strong light at the end of that tunnel as we enter March,” Redfield said. “We really need to work right now to get as many vaccinated Americans as possible, especially the most vulnerable and at risk of hospitalization.”
But current Trump officials will not be held accountable in two weeks, and it is unclear whether the new Biden administration supports such a change. Azar said Operation Wap Speed has not yet spoken to the transition team about the change.
“Although we will certainly inform the Biden team about these changes, we operate as you know, with only one government at a time, and this is the approach that we believe best fulfills the mission and the current situation we face today. Azar said.
A spokesman for the Biden transition did not respond to a request for comment.
If implemented, the policy change could add even more hassle for state and local officials who are already struggling with what they say are inadequate resources and communication from the federal government.
It will ultimately be up to the government, state and local officials to decide who is eligible to receive the vaccine in their state. Many states are already appealing to the original CDC recommendations on setting priorities, but the updated recommendations could make statewide distribution free for all.