Biden vows 100 million Covid-19 vaccinations in first 100 days

WILMINGTON: President-elect Joe Biden on Tuesday laid out his plan to fight the coronavirus pandemic during his first 100 days in office, saying his administration would vaccinate 100 million Americans, push to reopen schools and strengthen mask mandates.

Biden, who formally introduced his public health team on Tuesday, also announced he would nominate retired Army General Lloyd Austin as the country’s first Black defence secretary. He also picked US Representative Marcia Fudge of Ohio to lead the Housing and Urban Development Department, and Tom Vilsack, the former agriculture secretary, to fill the same role again, according to news reports on Tuesday.

At a briefing in Wilmington, Biden said he needed Congress to fully fund delivering vaccines to all corners of the United States. Getting children back to school will be a national priority in the first 100 days, Biden said.


“In 100 days, we can change the course of the disease and change life in America for the better,” said Biden, who takes office on Jan. 20. “Whatever your politics or point of view, mask up for 100 days.”

Biden’s first few months will likely be dominated by the pandemic, which is straining hospitals amid a nationwide resurgence. The coronavirus has killed more than 283,000 Americans and caused millions to lose their jobs.