Dr. Anthony Fauci is seeking to clarify what it really means for President Joe Biden to promise 100 million vaccinations in 100 days.
During an appearance on CBS’s “Face the Nation,” Margaret Brennan played an earlier interview Fauci gave discussing Biden’s vaccine distribution plan.
“The goal that’s been set, which I believe is entirely achievable, is to have 100 million people vaccinated in the first 100 days… primary and boost,” Fauci said.
Brennan pointed out Fauci seems to be “promising a bit more than the president.”
She asked him how many people will be fully vaccinated within 100 days.
“There was a little bit of a misunderstanding. What we are talking about is 100 million shots in individuals. So shots, as in other words, when you get down to, let’s say, a certain part of 100 days, at the end of 100 days, you’re going to have some people who have gotten both shots, and some will still be on their first shots,” Fauci explained.
He continued, “The president is saying 100 million shots in the arms of people within 100 days.”
Watch his remarks below:
HOW MANY VACCINATED BY END OF @POTUS BIDEN’S FIRST HUNDRED DAYS?
— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) January 24, 2021
100 million injections totals *about* 67 million people, Dr. Anthony Fauci explains to @margbrennan.
Some will have received one dose of the vaccine, others both doses, he says. pic.twitter.com/PWjagiEckg
Brennan noted the transition team’s projection is more like 67 million Americans.
She asked Fauci if that is an accurate number.
“Well I haven’t done the math myself, but it sounds very much like the accurate number where you’re having people who will have gotten two doses and then some that are still on their first dose,” Fauci said.
He went on, “When you add them all up and you look at shots, it’s 100 million shots in the arms of people within the first 100 days.”
White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain told NBC on Sunday a plan to distribute the vaccine “out into the community as a whole did not really exist when we came into the White House.”
Fauci previously said during a briefing, “We certainly are not starting from scratch,” as IJR reported.