MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Biden's agenda, Covid-19 and economic aid, cabinet nominations and Trump's impeachment

Biden took off his sport jacket and said, “Ready, set, go.” Chief Nurse Executive Ric Cumin gave him the Pfizer shot at Christiana Hospital in Newark, Delaware (Pic Reuters)

President-elect Joe Biden anticipates three main issues of his starting time in office, cabinet nominations, Trump's impeachment proceedings, and coronavirus and economic aid.

Biden made the announcement after receiving his second dose of the coronavirus vaccine, three weeks after getting his first one with television cameras rolling in an attempt to reassure the American public that the inoculations are safe.

Biden took off his sport jacket and said, “Ready, set, go.” Chief Nurse Executive Ric Cumin administered the Pfizer vaccine at Christiana Hospital in Newark, Delaware, close to the president-elect's home.

Scenes of the procedure aired on cable news moments after it occurred. Biden got his first shot on Dec. 21. The virus has now killed more than 375,000 people in the United States — about 60,000 more than when the president-elect got his first round of vaccination — and continues to upend life around the globe.

The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine requires a second shot about three weeks after the first vaccination. Another vaccine, this one produced by Moderna, requires a second shot about four weeks afterward. One-shot vaccines are still undergoing testing.

In comments to reporters after his shot, Biden said he has confidence in his COVID-19 medical team to hit ambitious vaccination rate targets after he takes office on Jan. 20.

“The No. 1 priority is getting vaccines in people’s arms as rapidly as we can,” Biden said. He also said he'd spoken to Senate leaders about splitting time between approving key Cabinet nominations for his new administration and proceeding with an impeachment trial against President Donald Trump.

Biden told reporters he'd mentioned the possibility of going ”a half day on dealing with impeachment, a half day on getting my people nominated and confirmed in the Senate, as well as moving on the package” for further actions related to the coronavirus and economic aid.

Biden's goal is to protect more people, more quickly, his team announced last week. The plan would not involve cutting two-dose vaccines in half, a strategy that top government scientists recommend against. Instead, it would accelerate shipment of the first doses and use the levers of government power to provide required second doses in a timely manner.

Like Biden, Vice President Mike Pence and other national leaders got pre-Christmas, first rounds of vaccinations.