Trump signs order to prioritise Americans for COVID vaccine, critics say 'publicity stunt'

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed an executive order to prioritise Americans for vaccines developed in country or procured by US government. Trump said that policy is to ensure Americans have first access to free, safe, and effective COVID-19 vaccines developed in country or purchased by US government. However, critics argue that order is a mere "publicity stunt" to take credit for vaccine development because scope of policy remains unclear. 

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It remains under cloud wher President can enforce Defence production Act through executive order and force companies to provide vaccines to Americans first before or nations. Ironically, United Kingdom on Tuesday became first country in world to deploy US firm Pfizer's vaccine outside a trial setting. UK has started vaccination drive in country with Pfizer and BioNtech's mRNA-based vaccine. 

"To ensure health and safety of our citizens, to strengn our ecomy, and to enhance security of our Nation, we must ensure that Americans have priority access to COVID-19 vaccines developed in United States or procured by United States Government," order re. 

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Pfizer seeks approval in US

Food and Drug ministration (FDA), which regulates medicines in United States, is expected to approve Pfizer's vaccine in coming days, following which it will be deployed across country. US government has an agreement with Pfizer under which firm is obligated to supply 100 million doses of vaccine to country, which would vaccinate 50 million people given two-dose process of drug. 

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Earlier, it was reported that Trump ministration declined an offer me by Pfizer for ditional doses of its vaccine. report suggested that decision could delay procurement of next batch of vaccines until June next year. However, an official from ministration dismissed report saying that government has agreements with five or companies and that re will be short of doses for American people. 

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(Im Credit: AP)