Joe Biden Announced New Milestone In COVID-19 Vaccination: “Americans From 16 Years Old, It’s Up To You Now”

The president of the United States, Joe Biden announced on Wednesday the start of a new step in the ambitious vaccination plan that is underway in the country against COVID-19.

“If you are over 16, you can now request your free COVID-19 vaccination“Said the president, representing an enlargement of the age groups to receive the vaccine. “Americans over 16, it’s your turn now,” he said.

Biden explained that very soon 80% of those over 60 will be vaccinated with at least one dose, as educational centers have started to open across the country following the vaccination of teachers and education staff in all states.

In a speech, Biden also said he hoped US meets 100-day target of 200 million coronavirus vaccines at the end of the day, even as the country faces an increase in infections. “Today we will hit 200 million doses,” Biden said. “It is an incredible achievement for the nation.”

Half of adults in the United States have received at least one dose of the vaccine, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). One-third of American adults are fully immunized, as is 26% of the general population.

The Democratic president wanted to persuade young people to get vaccinated. “Maybe they think they don’t need to be vaccinated. Let me explain why yes. One of the reasons is that the vaccine will prevent you from getting seriously ill or even dying. If you are fully vaccinated, the chances of this happening to you are slim; the vaccine can save your life. The second reason is that you are doing it for your community. If you get vaccinated you are protecting everyone around you ”.

Biden said that currently, “90% of Americans live within 5 miles of a vaccination center”, with which anyone can easily access to get vaccinated.

“The vaccine is free, it is convenient and it is increasingly available”, the president insisted.

During his speech, the president launched a program so that every employer in the United States, “big or small, can give their paid employees time to get vaccinated.” No worker in the United States should lose money by going for the vaccine, ”he said.

It is a program of tax benefits for small and medium-sized entrepreneurs in the country who grant paid leave to their workers so they can be vaccinated against covid-19 and recover from the inoculation if they need to.

According to the White House, only 43% of working adults received at least one injection.

“There is no excuse they won’t do it,” Biden added, and predicted that no matter how hard they try, they will have to put in a bit more of an effort to celebrate our independence on July 4.

Surveys have shown that doubts about vaccines have diminished since their launch, But administration officials believe they need to make vaccination easier and more attractive, especially for young Americans who are less likely to contract the virus and do not feel the same urgency as adults. It means to provide incentives and encouragement to get vaccinated, as well as reduce the friction surrounding the vaccination process.

Maximizing the number of Americans vaccinated in the coming months is essential for the White House, which aims to restore a semblance of normality around the July 4 vacation and even more for the next school year.

The United States is on track to have an adequate supply of vaccines for all adults by the end of May and for all Americans by July, but the administration of the injections will be another matter.

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