Biden suggests governors underestimated need for fed help on vaccine
Biden reiterated multiple times that his administration discovered, upon taking office, that the vaccine supply they expected simply did not exist, and suggested governors were being a bit cavalier in their assertions they could handle vaccine distribution without federal government help, he said during a virtual tour of a mass vaccination site in Arizona.

"We met, virtually, with all the governors. And the governors basically said, 'just send us the vaccine, we'll take care of it.' And the fact is, I think, they -- and everyone else -- vastly underestimated the logistical needs that go with having the vaccine, assuming you have enough vaccine," Biden said. He touted his efforts to send Federal Emergency Management Agency personnel to vaccination centers and provide more funding to take the burden off states.
Vice President Kamala Harris joined Biden for the virtual tour of the center at State Farm Stadium, normally home to the Arizona Cardinals. The site delivers vaccinations 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, averages 8,000 shots per day and has distributed 160,000 vaccines so far.
Having enough vaccine was, initially, a major challenge, Biden said earlier in the virtual tour. Now that the supply pipeline has improved, Biden offered a timeline for herd immunity, saying he estimates over 300 million Americans should be able to get vaccinated by fall. Biden was complimentary of Arizona's Republican Gov. Doug Ducey during the tour.
At the end of the tour, Biden grew passionate, clearly excited about seeing the good work these Arizonans were doing.
"When we stand united, there’s not a damn thing we've been unable to do, and you're the -- you're a perfect example of that," Biden said.
-ABC News' Sarah Kolinovsky




