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Polis says federal increase in vaccine distribution is move in 'right direction,' more supply needed to end pandemic

Polis on CNN
Posted at 9:23 PM, Jan 26, 2021
and last updated 2021-01-27 08:56:10-05

DENVER — In a Tuesday press briefing, Gov. Jared Polis projected an end of the pandemic in sight by late summer.

Polis later expressed increased federal vaccine supply would be key to ending the pandemic in unprecedented time.

"It is going to take an awfully long time at these levels to end the pandemic," Polis said during an appearance on Erin Burnett's OutFront on CNN.

The Biden administration's announced Tuesday states would be going from 8.6 million doses a week to 10 million a week for the next three weeks.

"It is a 16% increase, moving in the right direction. In addition, it is providing stability for three weeks. A 16% increase, and also telling us it will stay at that level next week, week after, week after that — it is numbers we can plan for," Polis said in response to the announcement

The increased supply means Colorado will go from a weekly vaccine supply of 70,000-80,000 to around 100,000.

"To put it in perspective, Colorado this coming week, 83,000 doses, state of 5.7 million people. We have to run the exact math, but talking about approximately 100,000 doses for the following weeks, still a small step in the ramp up," Polis said to Burnett. "We certainly hope there's several times that level of dose as we get into March, but we're excited to get it out. This is lifesaving and about ending the pandemic."