US News

White House increases weekly COVID-19 vaccine allocation to 13.5M doses

The White House on Tuesday said it was increasing the allocation of the coronavirus vaccine to states to a cumulative 13.5 million doses per week, while also doubling the allotment to pharmacies to 2 million weekly doses.

The additional supplies — part of an ongoing ramp-up — come as the US continues to make slow but steady progress in inoculating Americans against the deadly virus.

“We’re increasing the vaccine supply to 13.5 million doses per week that will go out to states,” said White House press secretary Jen Psaki during a Tuesday briefing.

“This is a 57 percent increase from the amount states received when [President Biden] was inaugurated” on Jan. 20, added Psaki.

Separately, the feds are bolstering their weekly vaccine shipments to a coast-to-coast network of pharmacies helping to distribute the shots on the local level.

The launch of that initiative was announced earlier this month, with an initial total allocation of 1 million doses per week.

“We’re doubling the supply to our pharmacy program,” Psaki said Tuesday. “This program will expand access in neighborhoods across the country so that people can call and make an appointment and get their shot conveniently and quickly.

“Eventually, as supply increases, more than 40,000 pharmacy locations nationwide will be providing COVID-19 vaccines through this program,” added Psaki, calling it “a critical, critical part of our plan.”

These efforts are in addition to a nationwide network of community health centers announced last week with 1 million doses to start.

A patient receives his second dose of the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine
A patient receives his second dose of the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine. Karen Ducey/Getty Images