For the latest news and information on the coronavirus pandemic, visit the WHO website.
President-elect Joe Biden on Thursday criticized federal efforts to distribute the coronavirus vaccine, saying he would ask Congress for $ 400 billion to speed up the pace of vaccination in the US.
"The introduction of the vaccine in the US has been a dismal failure so far," Biden said in his speech on Thursday, reiterating his goal of administering 100 million shots by the end of his first 100 days in office. The money would be used to increase vaccine supplies, create more vaccination centers, and mobilize more medical teams to administer the shots.
Top tips from the editors
Subscribe to CNET Now for the day's most engaging reviews, news, and videos.
The vaccination funding is part of a $ 1.9 trillion economic American Rescue Plan that includes $ 1,400 checks for most Americans, a temporary increase in unemployment benefits, and a moratorium on evictions and foreclosures.
"This will be the most difficult operational effort we have ever made as a nation," he said. "We have to move heaven and earth to get more people vaccinated."
Continue reading:: The latest information on the pandemic
It has been criticized that the Trump administration's mass vaccination efforts failed to meet their goal of vaccinating 20 million Americans against COVID-19 by the end of 2020. As of Thursday, only about 11.1 million people had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine compared to the more than 30 million doses that were distributed, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
States have been warning for months that they lack sufficient funds to carry out the mass vaccination programs necessary to fight the pandemic. Last month, $ 8.7 billion was recently approved for coronavirus vaccine distribution and tracking, with $ 4.5 billion allocated to states and local authorities.
Currently, however, only very specific groups of people - mainly healthcare workers - are allowed to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. The Trump administration announced Tuesday that it would release all available doses and instruct states to immediately begin vaccinating every American 65 and older.
The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions about a disease or health goals.