By: Teddy Grant

President Joe Biden announced on Tuesday that the U.S would have enough vaccines for every adult by the end of May, two months earlier than expected, according to the Associated Press.

The news comes after reports that drugmaker Merck will help manufacture Johnson & Johnson’s one-shot vaccine that was approved for emergency use on Saturday. The two companies are considered rivals in the pharmaceutical space.

“We’re now on track to have enough vaccine supply for every adult in America by the end of May,” Biden said.

Slightly over 10% of adults in the U.S. have received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Biden also said that he was cautioned not to provide an answer as to when Americans will be able to live safely from underneath the pandemic.

The president’s announcement also comes at the same time as states begin to relax their virus-related mandates, according to the AP.

Texas’ Republican governor, Greg Abbott, signed an executive order on Tuesday lifting the state’s mask mandate, despite warnings from health experts. All businesses will be allowed to reopen to 100% capacity.

“Removing state mandates does not end personal responsibility and caring for your family members, friends and others in your community,” Abbott said. “People and businesses don’t need the state telling them how to operate.”

The White House said that the federal government would increase its supply of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines to states to 15.2 million doses a week, up from 14.5 million, according to the AP. Around 2.8 million doses of Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine this week.