Biden to move up deadline for adult eligibility for COVID vaccine to April 19

WASHINGTON (CBS News) — President Biden plans to announce Tuesday that the deadline for adult eligibility for COVID-19 vaccines is being moved up to April 19, according to a person familiar with his plans.

Mr. Biden had previously called for states and territories to make all adults eligible for shots by May 1. As of Tuesday, 36 states have opened eligibility for vaccinations to people ages 16 and older, while 12 more and the District Columbia are already set to do so by April 19.

It is unclear how moving up a deadline set by the president actually changes the distribution of the vaccines or how quickly they’re injected into Americans’ arms. It was also not immediately clear Tuesday if the new, earlier deadline also signals that vaccine supply is arriving faster or if there are new plans to more quickly vaccinate Americans waiting to get their shots.

Several states and major metropolitan areas, including Washington, are struggling to meet high demand for shots, leaving residents who are currently eligible scrambling to find vaccine options in neighboring Maryland or Virginia.

Mr. Biden said last month there would be enough supply to vaccinate every American by the end of May.

“It’s going to take longer to get it in their arms, but that’s how much vaccine we’ll have,” he said at the time.

The announcement comes as vaccinations continue at a notable pace, even as COVID-19 infection rates are on the rise once again in several states.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Monday that more than 167 million vaccinations have been administered since shots began being distributed late last year. Nearly 1 in 3 Americans, 32.4%, have had at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose so far, the CDC said.

As of Monday, at least 150 million vaccinations have been administered since the president took office on January 20 — a figure aides said Mr. Biden is set to tout today.

He is scheduled to speak from the White House about the progress of vaccinations nationwide after visiting a vaccination site in Northern Virginia.