Democrats demand plan from Trump to fix ‘failed’ vaccine rollout

Vaccination efforts are well behind schedule after the Trump administration last month authorized a pair of Covid-19 vaccines that were developed in record time. Trump administration officials set a goal of inoculating 20 million Americans by the end of December, but only 9 million have received their first dose and nearly 25.5 million doses have been distributed, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

President Donald Trump and some of his health officials said states must work faster to administer available doses, but Senate Democrats on Monday said the Trump administration’s failure to deliver a “long-overdue national plan” — with instructions on use of personal protective equipment, best practices on administering the vaccine and other tactics — has hampered the vaccine rollout.

“Federal responsibility does not end with delivery of vaccines to states, as you have suggested,” the Democrats wrote. “Vaccine administration must be a close partnership between the federal government and state, Tribal, and local governments, with the federal government stepping up to ensure that all needs are met.”

A spokesperson for HHS countered that the federal government has increasingly provided resources and guidance for states, citing $3 billion in new funding for states and data showing progress with vaccinations.