New York state runs out of Covid-19 vaccines: governor

[NEW YORK] New York state was to run out of coronavirus vaccines on Friday, Governor Andrew Cuomo said, increasing pressure on President Joe Biden's administration to speed up deliveries.

"NYS will use up our first dose vaccine allocations today. But our next allocation is coming throughout the week," Mr Cuomo wrote on Twitter.

"Providers should ONLY schedule appointments for allocations they know they'll receive. We want to avoid all cancellations," he added.

Mr Biden took office this week with a pledge to reenergise America's faltering vaccination programme.

Only 16.5 million vaccines have been administered to Americans and Mr Biden is calling for 100 million shots in 100 days.

Cuomo and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio have over the past week been calling on America's federal government to speed up the delivery of vials.

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In an open letter to Mr Biden on Friday, Mr de Blasio said more than 500,000 doses had been administered in the city of eight million people.

"We're burning through our supply," Mr de Blasio tweeted.

"We need more doses IMMEDIATELY so we can protect the most vulnerable residents in our city," he added.

Mr Biden signed a spate of new measures to strengthen the US fight against the virus on his first full day in office on Thursday, including increasing the use of masks and testing.

Experts say his government will find it difficult to quicken deliveries due to the still limited manufacturing capacities for the only two vaccines already approved in the US - those of Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna.

The virus has already killed more than 400,000 people in the US, the world's hardest-hit country.

On Friday, Mr Biden said deaths would likely top 600,000, giving his highest estimate yet for the country's eventual toll.

More than 26,000 people have died in New York City alone.

AFP