'To the Sky and the Ground' US Launches Operation to Supply Pfizer Vaccines

Plan to Supply 40 Million Doses by Year-End
Overcoming Vaccine Hesitancy Remains a Challenge

Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine is being loaded onto an aircraft for the first time at an airport in Michigan, USA.
[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] Distribution of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine manufactured by U.S. pharmaceutical company Pfizer and German BioNTech has begun within the United States.

According to U.S. media including CNN on the 13th, the first vaccine shipments were made via trucks and airplanes on that day.

The vaccine, which received emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) a day earlier, began distribution from Pfizer's facility located in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

Gustave Perna, a U.S. Army general and member of the government's vaccine development task force called 'Operation Warp Speed,' introduced that the vaccines supplied by U.S. transport companies FedEx and UPS amount to 2.9 million doses. By the 14th, distribution will reach 150 locations across 50 states, with an additional supply to 450 locations on the 15th and 16th.

General Perna stated that governors of each state plan to prioritize vaccination for medical personnel and residents of long-term care facilities.

Moncef Slaoui, the chief officer of 'Operation Warp Speed,' also appeared on Fox News that day and announced plans to distribute approximately 40 million doses of the vaccine nationwide by the end of the year.

Slaoui predicted that 50 to 80 million doses could be distributed monthly in January and February of next year, explaining, "We aim to have 100 million people immune by the first quarter of next year."

He also mentioned that for the U.S. to achieve herd immunity, 75 to 80% of the population must be immune, and he hopes to reach this point between May and June of next year.

The key to this is how many people can be vaccinated quickly.

FDA Director Stephen appeared on ABC News that day and noted that vaccine hesitancy among some Americans is a significant issue, and authorities are cooperating to address these fears and concerns.

He emphasized, "The way we see the light at the end of this tunnel and get through it is by achieving herd immunity," adding, "This means vaccinating a very large number of people in this country, including those who are hesitant."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.