'Battlefield Medicine' In Los Angeles ICU As Biden Launches 'Wartime Effort'

More than 400,000 Americans have been killed by the coronavirus. That's more Americans than were killed in all of World War II, President Biden pointed out this week. He calls his new plan to fight the pandemic a "wartime effort."

That effort begins with taking charge of a bottlenecked vaccine rollout. NPR pharmaceutical correspondent Sydney Lupkin reports on several factors that are slowing the process down. And NPR's Yuki Noguchi explores why it may take some time for pharmacies to become major vaccine distribution sites.

The need for more vaccine is a national story, but the wait is especially excruciating in Los Angeles. NPR's Leila Fadelvisited one hospital pushed to the brink, where doctors compare their work to "battlefield medicine."

In participating regions, you'll also hear a local news segment that will help you make sense of what's going on in your community.

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This episode was produced by Gabe O'Connor, Brianna Scott, Lee Hale and Brent Baughman. It was edited by Sami Yenigun with help from Joe Neel and Wynne Davis. Our executive producer is Cara Tallo.