U.S. Will Have Enough COVID-19 Vaccines For All Adults By End Of May, Biden Says

President Joe Biden announced Tuesday that the United States in on track to have enough COVID-19 vaccines to inoculate every adult by the end of May, two months earlier than his original estimate of July.

“We’re now on track to have enough vaccine supply for every adult in America by the end of May,” said Biden on Wednesday. The president’s announcement comes one day after pharmaceutical company Merck agreed to focus on manufacturing Johnson & Johnson’s single-dose COVID-19 vaccine instead of researching their own. The bolstered production will expedite the U.S. production of vaccines.

Biden also challenged every state to give all teachers at least one dose of any COVID-19 vaccine by the end of March. When asked if Americans can return to normal life any time soon, the president offered his realistic expectations. “I’ve been cautioned not to give an answer to that because we don’t know for sure,” said Biden before telling the crowd his hope was “this time next year.”

Biden then warned that even after vaccinations, Americans must continue wearing masks for their safety. “Now is not the time to let up,” urged Biden. “There is light at the end of the tunnel, but it’s not over yet.”