"This Could Take Years for Vaccination," Biden's Warning

Concerns Over Vaccine Distribution Delays... Immediate Implementation of Vaccine Support Measures Announced Upon Inauguration
Urging Trump to Wear Masks and Get Vaccinated
Trump: "Vaccine Distribution Is Up to States... Biden Also Failed with Swine Flu"

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] President-elect Joe Biden has expressed great concern over delays in the distribution of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine. Biden warned that at the current pace, it could take years to vaccinate the entire population nationwide, and promised to invoke the Defense Production Act (DPA) immediately after taking office to support vaccine manufacturing.

On the 29th (local time), Biden made these remarks during a speech in Wilmington, Delaware. He pointed out that President Trump's vaccine distribution is far behind schedule and that the vaccine rollout is not proceeding properly.

Biden expressed concern, saying, "At the current vaccination rate, it could take not months but years to complete the vaccinations."

He projected that even if the vaccination rate were increased 5 to 6 times to vaccinate 1 million people per day, it could still take several months for the majority of Americans to be vaccinated.

Biden also announced his plan to invoke the Defense Production Act (DPA) to accelerate vaccine distribution. He stated that he would require mask-wearing within the authority granted to him after taking office.

Biden warned that a surge in COVID-19 cases is expected in January next year, and deaths in February, cautioning that the situation might not improve until March.

The president-elect also called on President Trump to act. He urged Trump to support mask-wearing among the American people and to get vaccinated when recommended by doctors.

Following Biden, Vice President-elect Kamala Harris also received the COVID-19 vaccine on the same day, but President Trump has not scheduled a vaccination plan.

Instead, President Trump directly refuted Biden's claims. On the same day, Trump tweeted, "Once the federal government delivers vaccines to designated locations, the responsibility lies with each state. We developed the vaccine quickly and delivered it to each state. Biden even failed with swine flu!"

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