Alex Azar, United States Secretary
of Health and Human Services, has declared two important changes in the mass
vaccination campaign initiated less than a month ago by US President Donald
Trump.

First, the government will
no longer hold back the much-needed second doses of the Pfizer BioNTech and
Moderna vaccines, practically doubling supplies. Secondly, states have been
directed to lower the priority scale and immediately start vaccinating other
groups, including people aged 65 and above, and younger people with
comorbidities.

“We had been holding back
second doses as a safety stock,” Azar said on ABC. “We now believe that our
manufacturing is predictable enough that we can ensure second doses are
available for people from ongoing production. So everything is now available to
our states and our health care providers.”

Azar also gave a nod to accommodate
more people in receiving the vaccines.

“We are calling on our
governors to now vaccinate people aged 65 and over, and under age 65 with a
(health condition) because we have got to expand the group,” Azar said.

In an unexpected
move, the Trump administration shifted gears on Tuesday to speed the delivery
of vaccines.

 The new Biden-Harris team is in favour with
the new plans. President-elect Joe Biden said he would release vaccine doses as
quickly as possible.

The government has
distributed 25.5 million doses to states and US territories so far. However,
only 9 million people have received their first shot.

Florida is one of the first
states to begin vaccinations of people aged 65 and above.

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Biden is expected to give a
speech on January 14, 2021 outlining his plan to make vaccines accessible to
more people in the first part of his administration. His transition team has
vowed to release as many vaccine doses as possible, setting on a path different
from the Trump administration that held back millions of doses as a tactic of
ensuring enough supply.

The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine
requires a second shot about three weeks after the first vaccination. The
Moderna vaccine requires a second shot about four weeks afterward.