Following a meeting with his COVID-19 task force, Biden delivered remarks on the state of the worsening coronavirus pandemic and slammed the Trump administration for falling behind its goal in distributing vaccines to Americans. 

"As I long feared and warned, the effort to distribute and administer the vaccine is not progressing as it should," Biden said. "If it continues to move as it is now, it's going to take years, not months, to vaccinate the American people."

The president-elected noted how officials working on "Operation Warp Speed," the federal government's vaccine program, had predicted this month 20 million vaccinations by the end of the year, but with just a few days left in 2020, the Centers for Disease Control has recorded about 2.1 million Americans as having received a dose.

"This will take more time than anyone would like and more time than the promises from the Trump administration have suggested. This is going to be the greatest operational challenge we've ever faced as a nation," Biden said. "And we're going to get it done."

Biden repeated his intention to invoke the Defense Production Act to compel companies in the private sector to accelerate the production of materials needed for vaccines and testing, as well as protective gear. He also announced that his administration will launch a public education campaign to promote vaccine acceptance and equity.

"We're also going to make sure vaccines are distributed equitably, so every person who wants a vaccine can get it no matter the color of their skin or where they live. We're going to ensure vaccinations are free of charge," he said. 

Biden, overall, painted a bleak picture of soaring infections and deaths in the coming weeks, acknowledging the "grim milestone" of the U.S. crossing 330,000 deaths and saying the county may not see improvement until March. He implored Americans to wear a mask and social distance in the meantime -- and called on Trump to set an example.

"It would make a huge difference for President Trump to say 'wear masks.' I hope the President will clearly and unambiguously urge all Americans to take the vaccine once it's available," he said.

After golfing in West Palm Beach, Trump lashed out at Republicans on Twitter Tuesday in response to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell blocking two efforts to pass $2,000 relief checks with a unanimous vote, saying those in his party have a “death wish” for opposing the House-passed measure.

“Unless Republicans have a death wish, and it is also the right thing to do, they must approve the $2000 payments ASAP. $600 IS NOT ENOUGH! Also, get rid of Section 230 - Don’t let Big Tech steal our Country, and don’t let the Democrats steal the Presidential Election. Get tough!” Trump said on Twitter.

It’s unclear at this point how McConnell plans to proceed, but if he does intend to tie those three issues together into one bill, as he suggested he might on the Senate floor earlier Tuesday citing the president's demands, it’s unlikely to pass.

-ABC News' Elizabeth Thomas and Mariam Khan

Biden has arrived at The Queen Theater in Wilmington, Delaware, where he'll receive a briefing on the pandemic from his COVID-19 task force before delivering remarks in which he's expected to take aim at the Trump administration on vaccine distribution.

Ahead of the briefing, the nation's top expert on infectious diseases and Biden's chief medical adviser of COVID-19, Dr. Anthony Fauci, characterized the pandemic as "out of control" and vaccine efforts as falling short.

“We certainly are not at the numbers that we wanted to be at the end of December," Fauci told CNN Tuesday. "You heard taking about 40 million doses for 20 million people. I mean even if you undercount -- two million is an undercount -- how much undercount can there be?”

“Not being responsible myself for the rollout, I can't personally guarantee that we’re gonna catch up," Fauci added later. "I hope we do.”

-ABC News Brian Hartman

Vice President-elect Kamala Harris publicly received her first dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine on Tuesday morning at United Medical Center in Southeast D.C., a predominantly African American community that has been hard hit by the coronavirus pandemic, with Harris telling the public, "this is about saving lives."

"There is a big difference between the vaccines and vaccinations," Harris said after getting the shot, a frequent saying from the president-elect who is expected to take aim at the Trump administration in afternoon remarks on the pace of vaccinations.

"I trust the scientists, and it is the scientists who created and approved this vaccine. So I urge everyone, when it is your turn, get vaccinated. It’s about saving your life, the life of your family members and the life of your community," Harris added.

Asked to respond to the chances of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell bringing the House-passed measure to raise stimulus checks to $2,000 to a vote, Harris promoted her own legislation that's been sitting in the Senate.

"Well, I actually have a bill for that," Harris said with a smile. "Awhile back, I recommended that folks receive a $2,000 check. And so, I would urge Mitch McConnell  to put my bill on the floor for a vote."

Harris' husband, Doug Emhoff, is also receiving the first dose of the Moderna vaccine on Tuesday. Biden and his wife, Jill Biden, publicly received their first doses of the Pfizer vaccine last week. Vice President Mike Pence and the nation's top expert on infectious diseases, Dr. Anthony Fauci, were also vaccinated on camera -- but the Biden transition team is arguing not enough Americans are seeing the same treatment.

More than 2 million Americans have gotten the first doses of a coronavirus vaccine, though officials from Operation Warp Speed said they planned to have 20 million doses of the vaccine distributed to the public by Friday.

-ABC News' Beatrice Peterson, Sarah Kolinovsky and Molly Nagle