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WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump will sign an executive order on Tuesday (December 8) to ensure that priority access to COVID-19 vaccines purchased by the US government is granted to the American people before helping other nations, a senior administration official said Monday.
Trump, who has faced strong criticism for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic, is eager to take credit for the rapid development and distribution of a vaccine.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told reporters that the order would establish a framework for US government agencies to help other countries acquire the vaccine as well.
It was unclear why an executive order was needed to guarantee that the vaccines would be distributed in the United States.
The White House will hold a summit event Tuesday to highlight the distribution process through Trump’s Operation Warp Speed, which has been organizing the effort.
Trump has followed the “America first” motto as president, and his aides want to make it clear that the same policy applies to the distribution of vaccines.
Officials from Democratic President-elect Joe Biden’s transition team were not invited to the summit. Trump, a Republican who lost the November 3 election to Biden, has refused to budge.
Trump and other officials will speak at Tuesday’s event, which will focus on informing the public about how distribution of the vaccine will work.
About 85 percent of long-term care and assisted living facilities nationwide had signed up for a mobile vaccination service provided by CVS and Walgreens, another senior administration official said.
The official said the US government was concerned about the vaccine-related cyberattacks and had protected itself against them.
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