The Trump administration is launching second doses of coronavirus vaccines that have been withheld for booster doses and is asking states to administer the vaccine to anyone over 65 and people with pre-existing health problems, a change of their previous guidance to prioritize doses for healthcare professionals.
“First of all, we have already made available all doses of the vaccine. So we were holding the second shots as a safety stop, ”said Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, on ABC’s“ Good Morning America ”program on Tuesday. “We now believe that our manufacturing is predictable enough that we can ensure that second doses are available to people in production in progress. So everything is now available to our states and our healthcare professionals.
Department of Health and Human Services officials are expected to provide details of the move on Tuesday.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 25.4 million doses of the vaccine have been distributed, but only 8.9 million Americans have received an injection.
Axios first reported the planned announcement.