Biden administration is trying to figure out what's delaying Covid vaccine shots, CDC says - CNBC

The Biden administration is trying to figure out exactly what's holding up the national Covid-19 vaccine rollout, searching for any hiccups in the manufacturing process, suppliers and distribution networks, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the new director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said Thursday.

Walensky said the administration is looking into what could be constraining the supply of doses and is prepared to use the Defense Production Act, a wartime measure used to force U.S.

"The president has a plan to use the Defense Production Act to see exactly what it is that are the resources that we need, either in the vaccine production or in the vaccine distribution, or in the vaccine administration.

Even as the administration probes the supply chain to see if it can boost production, distribution and administration of shots, Walensky said she still believes some doses are sitting unused.

The administration is trying to enlist more people to administer the vaccine, such as dentists and veterinarians, she said.

Asked about the long-term vaccination timeline, Walensky said the administration is sticking to its goal of 100 million doses in its first 100 days, but acknowledged that "after 100 days there are still a lot of Americans who need vaccine.".