Trump's COVID-19 vaccine chief apologises for 'miscommunication' over shipments

Army General in charge of distributing Coronavirus vaccines in United States admitted on December 19 that he failedto deliver initial number of doses promised to states. Gen. Gustave Perna, who is chief operating officer for Operation Warp Speed, apologised after a number of states last week received fewer doses of vaccine than planned. In a telephone briefing, he said that he took “personal responsibility” for miscommunication to state Goverrs. 

“I failed. I’m adjusting. I am fixing and we will move forward from re,” he told reporters. Army General said that he had given out number of doses based on what he believed would be ready. He added that he is one who approved forecast sheets and he is who approved allocations.

“re is problem with process. re is problem with Pfizer vaccine. re is problem with Moderna vaccine,” Gen Perna said. 

He added, “Please accept my personal apologies if this was disruptive to your decision-making”. 

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General’s remarks come a day after a second COVID vaccine was added in fight against deadly virus. According to BBC, Goverrs' in more than a dozen states have said that federal government has told m that next week’s shipment of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine will be less than originally projected. While taking to Twitter, Goverr Jay Inslee of Washington state called for “accurate, predictable numbers to plan and ensure on--ground success”. Michigan Goverr Gretchen Whitmer also said that White House was “slow-walking process”. 

General Perna said that he did t kw “exactness” when all vaccine available would be distributed. However, he added that shipping for  newly approved Moderna vaccine will begin on Sunday. He also said that he was on track to get a combined total of about 20 million doses of vaccines to states by first week of January. 

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US’ vaccination programme 

Meanwhile, both vaccines are said to be about 95 per cent effective. vaccination programmed in United States aims to reach 100 million people by April. Millions of doses are set to arrive by Monday after Food and Drug Administration authorized an emergency rollout of vaccine developed by Moderna Inc. and National Institutes of Health, as per AP reports. Once delivered, vaccine will be provided to citizens at cost and expenses for private-sector administration partners will be covered by healthcare payers: private insurance, Medicare or Medicaid, and an HHS program to cover COVID-19 costs for uninsured, US HHS informed.  Moderna vaccine is similar to Pfizer Inc. and Germany’s BioNTech that is w being dispensed to millions of health care workers and nursing home residents.

(With inputs from AP)

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