Biden: "Secured Vaccines for Nationwide Vaccination by May"... Two Months Ahead

Increasing Vaccine Production Using the Defense Materials Production Act
Hope for Return to Normal Life Next Year

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] U.S. President Joe Biden announced that he can provide sufficient COVID-19 vaccines to all American adults by the end of May, two months earlier than originally planned.

On the 2nd (local time), President Biden stated in a national address at the White House, "We expect to supply 300 million doses of the vaccine by May."

In this regard, pharmaceutical company Merck has abandoned the development of a COVID-19 vaccine but will produce competitor Johnson & Johnson's vaccine under the Defense Production Act.

President Biden said, "Merck will also produce Johnson & Johnson's vaccine. This is a very significant progress," adding, "We see the light at the end of the tunnel, but it is not over yet."

He also promised to use the Defense Production Act to produce more protective equipment.

Previously, President Biden had stated that all American adults could be vaccinated by the end of July.

He also said that all teachers would be able to receive the vaccine by March and expressed his hope to return to normal life by next year.