Biden Urges Trump to Coordinate With Transition Briefings on Vaccine Plans, National Security
U.S. President-elect Joe Biden delivers remarks about the U.S. economy during a press briefing at the Queen Theater on November 16, 2020 in Wilmington, Delaware. Mr. Biden and his advisors continue to work on the long term economic recovery plan his administration will try to put in place when he takes office. Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden said that many people may die if U.S. President Donald Trump and his administration continue to refuse to coordinate with his team.

Biden calls for the coordination of Trump's administration with his transition team on the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as block briefings on national security, policy issues, and vaccine plans.

Biden and his aides, including a small but growing group of Republicans, have highlighted the importance of being briefed on White House efforts to control the pandemic.

This includes the distribution plan of possible COVID-19 vaccine. The Trump administration is working on its own distribution plan.

Meanwhile, Biden's chief of staff implied that his transition team will start with their own planning separately due to the obstruction.

Sen. Susan Collins, a Republican representing Maine, said it is crucial that the apparent "president-elect" and his team have access to the planning for vaccine distribution. Collins said that it is no easy matter to distribute a vaccine.

"It's absolutely imperative for public health, that all of the planning that's gone on for which the current administration deserves credit, be shared with the new administration," Collins was quoted in an Associated Press News report.

This statement was backed on Monday by another Republican senator, Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska.

Last week, a number of Republicans on Congress called on the Trump administration to let Biden begin receiving national security briefings.

Trump has refused so far to comply on the requests of Democrats or Republicans as he tries to file claims on Biden's win on various states.

Biden has surpassed the 270 electoral vote level to become the next United States president.

He has also been leading Trump by more than 5.5 million votes nationally.

Biden said that the vaccine distribution is a huge undertaking, noting that if his team has to wait until he takes office to seek the government's distribution plan, they will be late for over a month.

Biden has vowed to alleviate inequality and improve the U.S. economy.

However, he added that any structural reforms depend on controlling the pandemic and handing out immediate relief.

"Once we shut down the virus and deliver economic relief to workers and businesses, then we can start to build back better than before," Biden was quoted in an AP News report.

Biden has avoided questions on whether he will support a short-term national lockdown to lower COVID-19 cases.

Biden has reiterated that everyone should wear masks and practice social distancing measures. However, one of his COVID-19 advisory board recently suggested a four to six weeks of national lockdown.

Michael Osterholm made the suggestion with the assurance of financial aid for Americans whose livelihood would be affected.

Osterholm then took back his statements and two other members of the panel said that a widespread lockdown should not be considered. He also added that the nation needs a standard set of principles.

He said during a CBS This Morning interview that currently, they do not have a standardize as seen with local and state leaders trying to find what is the right answer.