WASHINGTON — The federal government is buying 200 million more doses of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine to prepare for future needs, such as boosters and shots for kids under 12.
Watch the briefing stream in the video player above.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki says the Biden administration wants to have “maximum flexibility” to address changing conditions, and it’s “going to prepare for every contingency.”
The additional doses will be delivered between this fall and spring of next year.
It’s unclear whether booster shots will be needed for fully vaccinated people, but breakthrough infections attributed to the rapidly spreading delta variant have sparked a discussion. Most new coronavirus cases in vaccinated people have been mild or asymptomatic.
Likewise, it is still unclear if coronavirus vaccines will be approved for younger children.
Regarding Haiti, demonstrations in Cap-Haitien turned violent on Thursday as gunshots rang out while supporters of Moïse blocked roads and demanded justice, threatening to disrupt his upcoming funeral.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the delegation is on its way back to the United States. But she said the administration remains “deeply concerned about unrest in Haiti in this critical moment.”
“Haiti’s leaders must come together to chart a united path that reflects the will of the Haitian people,” Psaki added.
The press secretary also commented on the Taliban’s insistence that there won’t be peace in Afghanistan until there is a new negotiated government in Kabul and President Ashraf Ghani is removed.
Psaki said President Joe Biden continues to support “the leadership of the Afghan people, including Ashraf Ghani,” noting that Biden was scheduled to speak by phone with Ghani Friday.
Psaki underscored that the White House believes “a political solution is the only outcome to lasting peace in Afghanistan,” and said discussions are ongoing between Afghan leaders, members of the Afghan government and the Taliban.
Regarding the Chinese government’s sanctions on six Americans, including former Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, Psaki said the administration remains “undeterred by these actions,” and said the sanctions “are the latest examples of how Beijing punishes private citizens, companies and civil society organizations as a way to send political signals and further illustrate the PRC’s deteriorating investment climate and rising political risk.”
China sanctioned six Americans and one NGO Monday as part of a reciprocal move to U.S. sanctions against seven Chinese government officials working in Hong Kong.
“Beijing’s attempt to intimidate and bully internationally respected NGOs only demonstrate its further isolation from the world,” Psaki said.