A nurse is vaccinated against Covid-19 with Moderna's vaccine on December 21 in Hartford, United States.

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Jessica Hill / AP / SIPA

The coronavirus vaccine has already been administered to a million Americans, the director of the main United States federal public health agency, Robert Redfield, announced on Wednesday with the hope of a return to normal in the United States. country starting this summer.

“The United States reached a preliminary but crucial level today.

Local authorities have now reported that more than a million people have received their first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, ”said Robert Redfield, while three million doses were delivered last week.

The objectives will not be met

Dr Moncef Slaoui, senior adviser on the government vaccination program, however told reporters that the goal of immunizing 20 million people by the end of the year would "probably not be reached".

The United States still aims to immunize 100 million people before the end of the first quarter of 2021, and another 100 million before the end of the second quarter, however, argued Dr Slaoui.

Robert Redfield, for his part, called for Americans to continue to practice social distancing and wearing masks, until everyone in the United States is able to get an injection of the vaccine.

Two vaccines, those from Pfizer / BioNTech and Moderna, have so far been approved for distribution by health officials in the United States, which began their vaccination campaign on December 14.

70-85% immunity

Immunologist Anthony Fauci, a highly respected figure in the United States in the fight against Covid-19, for his part said on Wednesday that if the operation to vaccinate the American population went smoothly, the country could reach a 70-85% immunity level by next summer.

"When that happens, there will be a protective umbrella over the whole country," he said.

According to the expert, priority populations, such as residents of retirement homes, caregivers, essential workers, or people at risk should receive an injection of the vaccine by March to early April.

"We could start in April what I call" the open season "for vaccinations, that is to say that any person who wants to be vaccinated can be," said the former adviser of the White House on the coronavirus, who will resume his post after the inauguration of Joe Biden.

Dr Fauci also hinted that marriages in the United States could potentially resume normally by June or July 2021.

Additional doses

The statements come on the day the Pentagon announced the purchase of an additional 100 million doses from Pfizer-BioNTech, which will be delivered by July.

This brings US orders to 400 million doses - half from Pfizer the other from Moderna - which will immunize 200 million people, the two vaccines requiring two injections one month apart.

"Under the terms of the agreement, Pfizer will deliver at least 70 million doses by June 30, 2021, with the remainder to be delivered by July 31 at the latest," the Defense Ministry said in a statement.

The deal also gives the US government the option to purchase an additional 400 million doses of Pfizer's vaccine, the Pentagon added.

President Donald Trump's administration has been accused of passing up the opportunity to secure large amounts of vaccine.

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