US President Joe Biden announced on Tuesday that all adults should be eligible for the Covid-19 vaccine by April 19, bringing forward his May 1 deadline for all states and territories.
"By no later than April 19, in every part of this country, every adult 18 or over will be eligible to be vaccinated," Mr Biden said.
He made his remarks after a visit to a vaccination site in Alexandria, Virginia, just a short drive from Washington, DC.
"No more confusing rules. No more confusing restrictions," Mr Biden said. "Every adult is eligible to get in line."
Eligibility varied by state or territory, and largely gave priority to elderly and vulnerable at-risk populations such as the immuno-compromised.
Essential workers were also among the first groups vaccinated.
The accelerated pace of eligibility comes as supplies of the three federally approved vaccines – those developed by Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson – have increased.
Mr Biden has promised there will be enough vaccines for all US adults by the end of May.
He says 150 million shots have been given in his first 75 days, and 200 million will be given when he reaches the 100th day of his presidency.
It surpasses his initial goal of 100 million vaccinations in 100 days.
On Monday, the Centres for Disease Prevention and Control registered 62 million people who have been fully vaccinated, along with more than 106 million who have had at least one dose.
"We're the first country to vaccinate over 62 million people," Mr Biden said.
The country is averaging about 3 million immunisations daily.
On Saturday, April 3, a record 4.1 million vaccines were administered in 24 hours.
The US vaccination programme is accelerating while the country is recording 63,000 cases daily, along with the spread of variants that are more transmissible or can cause severe illness.
Mr Biden's decision to move up the eligibility deadline may be influenced by growing concern that a fourth surge in cases is taking hold.
"We're making incredible progress," he said. "There's a lot of good news but there's also some bad news. New variants of the virus are spreading and they're moving quickly."
The White House Covid-19 Task Force has continued to advise caution amid weeks of rising cases after a dramatic decrease that came after the worst surge in winter.
"We aren't at the finish line, we still have a lot of work to do," Mr Biden said. "We're still in a life-and-death race against this virus."
Scientists say the country may need about 80 per cent of the population to be inoculated for herd immunity to be reached.
"We're not even halfway through vaccinating 300 million Americans," Mr Biden said, referring to the country's population. "This is going to take time."
He still hopes to have most US adults immunised by July 4, the nation's Independence Day holiday.
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
