U.S. Surgeon General: 'We Are Absolutely Ready' To Distribute COVID-19 Vaccine
NPRSurgeon General: 'We Are Absolutely Ready' To Distribute COVID-19 Vaccine Enlarge this image toggle caption Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images The U.S. surgeon general says the country is ready to spring into action as soon as a coronavirus vaccine is approved for use — despite earlier failures in the federal government's handling of the pandemic. Jerome Adams says he's been in touch with production facilities and health departments across the country about what he calls "the most challenging vaccine distribution in history." And while Adams says there is still work to do at the local level, especially in convincing disproportionately affected communities of color to trust the vaccine, "we are absolutely ready to start shipping out vaccines," he tells NPR's Mary Louise Kelly. Adams tells Kelly she is "right to press" him on why he thinks the vaccine rollout will be successful, given missteps in the federal response earlier in the pandemic.