Sunday shows - Focus shifts to vaccine rollout

Discussions on the Sunday morning political talk shows focused on the rollout of the first doses of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine.

The first shipments left a Pfizer facility in Michigan earlier in the day.

Guests also discussed the Electoral College meeting on Monday, and the failed effort by Texas to overturn the presidential election results in four battleground states.

Read The Hill's complete coverage below.

Operation Warp Speed head says 40M doses of vaccine will be distributed by end of the month By ZACK BUDRYK   “We plan to have about 40 million doses of the vaccine available to us and distributed in the US by the end of this year,” Moncef Slaoui said on “Fox News Sunday,” adding that the U.S. would distribute up to 80 million doses through January. Read the full story here

FDA commissioner: First vaccines could be administered in US Monday By JOHN BOWDEN    Dr. Stephen HahnStephen HahnThe Hill's 12:30 Report - Biden's first official trip as president The Hill's Morning Report - With trial over, Biden renews push for COVID-19 bill How scientists saved Trump's FDA from politics MORE told CNN's "State of the Union" on Sunday that the federal government was "hopefully" planning to begin administration of the vaccine within hours. Read the full story here

FDA chief: Americans' hesitancy to get vaccine a 'significant problem' By KYLE BALLUCK   “That is a significant problem,” Dr. Stephen Hahn said. “I mean, if you think about how we get out of this pandemic, we have to continue our mitigation efforts right now. That is so important, mask wearing, et cetera. But the way we see light at the end of the tunnel, the way we get through this is to achieve herd immunity. And that means we need to vaccinate a significant number of people in this country, including those who are hesitant." Read the full story here

NIH director: People need to 'hit the reset button' on whatever made them skeptical about vaccine By JOSEPH CHOI   “This is a source of great concern for all of us and I would like to plead just to people who are listening to this this morning to really hit the reset button on whatever they think they knew about this vaccine that might cause them to be so skeptical,” said Dr. Francis Collins. Read the full story here

Azar: Nursing homes residents could receive COVID-19 vaccine by Christmas By JOHN BOWDEN   Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar said Sunday that nursing home residents across the U.S. would be receiving the coronavirus vaccine in the days ahead, and added that the Trump administration aimed to have most of the population of care home residents vaccinated by Christmas. Read the full story here

NJ governor: Next few weeks are 'going to be hell' By JOSEPH CHOI   New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy (D) expressed optimism regarding the rollout of the first round of COVID-19 vaccines on Sunday, but cautioned that the next few weeks are “going to be hell.” Read the full story here

Bill Gates: Presidential transition 'complicating' rollout of COVID-19 vaccine By JOHN BOWDEN   Philanthropist Bill Gates warned Sunday that the failure of President TrumpDonald TrumpNoem touts South Dakota coronavirus response, knocks lockdowns in CPAC speech On The Trail: Cuomo and Newsom — a story of two embattled governors McCarthy: 'I would bet my house' GOP takes back lower chamber in 2022 MORE to formally recognize his defeat to President-elect Joe BidenJoe BidenNoem touts South Dakota coronavirus response, knocks lockdowns in CPAC speech On The Trail: Cuomo and Newsom — a story of two embattled governors Biden celebrates vaccine approval but warns 'current improvement could reverse' MORE and begin a White House transition process is "complicating" efforts to roll out a COVID-19 vaccine to the general public. Read the full story here

Alexander: I hope Trump 'puts the country first' after Electoral College vote By ZACK BUDRYK   “The states have counted, certified their votes. The courts have resolved the disputes. It looks very much like the electors will vote for Joe Biden. And when they do, I hope that [President Trump] puts the country first,” Sen. Lamar AlexanderLamar AlexanderCongress addressed surprise medical bills, but the issue is not resolved Trump renominates Judy Shelton in last-ditch bid to reshape Fed Senate swears-in six new lawmakers as 117th Congress convenes MORE (R-Tenn.)  said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” Read the full story here

Wallace grills Scalise on Texas lawsuit: 'You were talking about disenfranchising 10 million Biden voters' By ZACK BUDRYK    Fox News host Chris WallaceChristopher (Chris) WallaceBill Gates: Goal of eliminating emissions by 2030 'completely unrealistic' Fox News's Chris Wallace praises Biden's discipline Klobuchar: Impeachment trial 'was about not hiding history' MORE confronted House Minority Whip Steve ScaliseStephen (Steve) Joseph ScaliseMerrick Garland is right to prioritize domestic terrorism, but he'll need a bigger boat Why Congress must invoke the 14th Amendment now The Hill's Morning Report - Presented by The AIDS Institute - Ahead: One-shot vax, easing restrictions, fiscal help MORE (R-La.) on his and other congressional Republicans’ support for a Texas lawsuit that would have thrown out the results of the presidential election in four key battleground states. Read the full story here

Chris Christie calls Trump's legal team's legal theory an 'absurdity' By JOSEPH CHOI   "The reason why the Supreme Court didn’t take it is because it’s an absurd idea to think that any state, or any number of states, no matter how good they are, can challenge another state’s right to run the election as they see fit. And also there’s no evidence.” Read the full story here

Dershowitz: Supreme Court ruling shows 'you can't count on the judiciary' if you're Team Trump By JORDAN WILLIAMS   Attorney Alan DershowitzAlan Morton DershowitzA victory for the Constitution, not so much for Trump Sunday shows preview: Lawmakers weigh in on Trump impeachment trial; Biden administration eyes timeline for mass vaccinations The Hill's Morning Report - Presented by TikTok - Dems rest their case; verdict on Trump this weekend MORE said the Supreme Court turning down Texas’s election lawsuit sent a message that President Trump and his allies "can’t count on the judiciary" to help overturn the results of the election. Read the full story here

Coons says Biden won't interfere in son's investigation By ZACK BUDRYK   Sen. Chris CoonsChris Andrew CoonsDemocrats don't trust GOP on 1/6 commission: 'These people are dangerous' Sunday shows preview: 2024 hopefuls gather at CPAC; House passes coronavirus relief; vaccine effort continues The Hill's Morning Report - Presented by The AIDS Institute - Senate ref axes minimum wage, House votes today on relief bill MORE (D-Del.) expressed confidence on Sunday that President-elect Joe Biden would not interfere with a federal investigation of his son Hunter Biden’s tax affairs. Read the full story here