Turning to the United States. President Joe Biden celebrated 300 million COVID doses being administered to the public in just 150 days since taking the helm in January this year. But at the same time, Biden is in danger of failing to meet another target – having 70 percent of Americans at least partially vaccinated by July 4, in a little over two weeks.
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U.S. President Joe Biden:
I’m pleased to announce that today we will have reached the mark of 300 million shots in the arms in just 150 days. Let me say that again: 300 million shots in arms in under 150 days.
Voiceover:
Crediting scientists, companies, the American people, and the government’s efforts to carry out the vaccination program in the United States, U.S. President Joe Biden took a cautious victory lap on Friday as he announced that 300 million shots have been administered to the public in 150 days since taking office in January.
U.S. President Joe Biden:
It’s an important milestone that just didn’t happen on its own or by chance. It took the ingenuity of American scientists, the full capacity of American companies, and a whole-of-government response across federal, state, Tribal, and local governments. And above all, we got here because of the American people stepping up and getting vaccinated.
Voiceover:
Having been leaving no stone unturned in his search for the return of normalcy to America, President Joe Biden now has about 168 million, or about 65.1 percent of the nation’s adults having received at least one dose of the COVID vaccine, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
However, the pace of new vaccinations in the United States has dropped substantially and noticeably from a high of nearly 2 million per day about two months ago. This spells trouble for Washington, because the drop in the pace of new vaccinations could possibly jeopardise Biden’s ability to hit the 70 percent mark – having at least 70 percent of the country’s adults at least partially vaccinated.
The White House said its multi-pronged approach to the vaccination effort has successfully curbed the virus, which, in turn, has brought COVID-19 cases, hospitalisations and deaths to their lowest levels in more than a year.
But be that as it may, Biden admitted hospitalisations and deaths in some places where vaccination rates remain sluggish are still going up.
U.S. President Joe Biden:
But unfortunately, cases and hospitalisations are not going down
in many places in the lower-vaccination-rate states. They’re actually going up in some places.
Voiceover:
In an effort to stop vaccine skepticisms from running deep in the American society, Vice President Kamala Harris traveled to Georgia to convince Americans to roll up their sleeves.
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris:
Getting vaccinated is about building the power of community. Getting vaccinated is about building the power of our country. And we can do this Georgia. I know we can do this.
Voiceover:
The President earlier expressed his hope to celebrate Independence Day, which he describes as a “summer of freedom from the virus” with all the traditional pomp and celebration. But now, the possibility of being able to let COVID take a back seat in the United States literally hinges on the vaccination rate in the country.
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