Biden administration to buy 200 million more vaccine doses, 100 million each from Moderna and Pfizer

As the nation continues to contend with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the Biden administration is seeking to purchase 200 million more COVID-19 vaccine doses.

"The Biden-Harris Administration is working to purchase an additional 100 million doses of each of the two Food and Drug Administration-authorized vaccines – Pfizer and Moderna," according to the White House. This increases the total vaccine order for the U.S. by 50%, from 400 million to 600 million with these additional doses expected to deliver this summer. With these additional doses, the U.S. will have enough vaccine to fully vaccinate 300 million Americans by the end of this summer."

The administration also plans to boost the overall quantity of vaccine doses provided each week to states, tribes and territories to at least 10 million doses per week during at least the next three weeks, which would represent an increase of 1.4 million per week.

"The Biden-Harris Administration will increase overall, weekly vaccine supply to states, Tribes and territories from 8.6 million doses to a minimum of 10 million doses," according to the White House. "This increase of 1.4 million doses per week will allow millions more Americans to get vaccinated sooner than previously anticipated. The Administration is committing to maintaining this as the minimum supply level for the next three weeks."  

So far there have been more than 424,000 COVID-19 deaths in the United States, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.