The US sets a weekly record for Coronavirus deaths, amid signs of a limit on a vaccine program until next summer.
The daily average over the seven days up to Monday was 2,249. The previous high was an average of 2,232, set on April 17.
The US death toll reached 283,703 yesterday, an increase of 1,404. Confirmed cases are 14,949,299, with 192,299 in 24 hours. Hospitalizations rose to a new record of 102,148. There are 20,098 patients in intensive care.
Medical and public health experts, including the Government’s Dr. Anthony Fauci, warned again of “a surge upon a surge”. They said the latest spike, reflecting travel by Americans for the Thanksgiving holiday, could be propelled higher by movement during Christmas and New Year.
Dr. Fadi Al Akhrass, an infectious-disease specialist in Kentucky, summarized: “The value of Christmas is what we give, not what we take — this is something we need to consider this season. Giving up on large gatherings will probably be the best gift of them all.”
Trump Decision Means Pfizer Vaccine Limited Until Summer
The Trump Administration limited its purchase of the Pfizer vaccine, the first to be distributed widely, months ago. The outcome is that vaccinations could be limited to 50 million Americans until July or July.
Pfizer offered the Administration the chance to lock in supplies beyond the 100 million doses agreed in a $1.95 billion deal. Completion would have led to an additional 100 million to 500 million doses.
But Donald Trump’s officials never made the deal, as other countries took up Pfizer’s offer of the two-dose treatment.
Trump intends on Tuesday to issue an executive order asserting that other nations will not get US supplies of the vaccine until Americans have been inoculated. But the order is largely symbolic, with no effect on availability in the US.
Pfizer announced on November 9 that its vaccine is more than 90% effective and is safe for distribution. Two days later, the European Union announced completion of a deal with Pfizer and the Germany company BioNTech for 200 million doses, a product of months of negotiations. The EU has an option for 100 million more doses.
The UK, which has ordered 40 million doses, plans to begin vaccinations on Tuesday.
A spokeswoman for the Department of Health and Human Services said, “We are confident that we will have 100 million doses of Pfizer’s vaccine as agreed to in our contract, and beyond that, we have five other vaccine candidates.”
Pfizer said in a statement: “Any additional doses beyond the 100 million are subject to a separate and mutually acceptable agreement. The company is not able to comment on any confidential discussions that may be taking place with the US Government.”
The Trump Administration has declined to participate in an initiative, Covax, to make a vaccine available globally.
