US: Covid vaccination eligibility to all adults by May 1
(WASHINGTON). President Joe Biden announced he is directing US states to open Covid vaccination eligibility to all adults by May 1. A step that he says could allow for small gatherings on Independence Day on July 4.
Tune in as President Biden addresses the nation on the anniversary of the COVID-19 shutdown. https://t.co/EYhEaYRdzN
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) March 12, 2021
Biden stated that the “fight is far from over,” but that the nation will be in a “much better place” by Independence Day. This will happen if Americans continue to wear face masks, following public health guidelines, and get vaccinated when it’s their turn.
“While it was different for everyone, we all lost something,” he said. He called the pandemic year a “collective suffering and sacrifice.” The Democrat’s first big speech comes on the first anniversary of the coronavirus pandemic.
His speech not only had as its center a retrospective of what has been a year of crisis due to the devastating health emergency. It was also a hopeful message about a return to certain normalcy.
Biden said, “there is light and hope that we will have better days ahead”. He provided an update on what his team has been doing to increase vaccine distribution across the country.
Support Covid vaccination
The president announced that he will deploy an additional 4,000 US troops to support Covid vaccination. Biden stated that he will expand the pool of people who are eligible to serve as vaccinators such as medical students, veterinarians, and dentists.
Biden said he will send more doses of the vaccine to about 950 community health centers and up to 20,000 retail pharmacies. Thus, make it easier for people to inject closer to where they live. One of the goals is to allow Americans to come together in at least small groups by July 4.
Other measures announced were the creation of a federal website. Therefore, Americans will know where to get vaccinated and a telephone line for those who do not have internet access. He also promised to improve state websites that offer vaccination appointments.
The president said that his Administration will continue to increase the number of COVID-19 tests. As well as prioritize the vaccination of teachers, to reopen schools sooner.
Follow the rules
Biden expressed optimism that the US will begin to live a certain level of normalcy in the coming months. He expressed that “there is hope and the light of better days ahead if we all do our part.”
However, he urged Americans to continue to “comply with the rules” established by health experts to mitigate coronavirus infections. Especially, when more and more states are relaxing measures and suspending orders to wear a mask in public.
“We may have to reinstate the restrictions” if Americans are not vigilant about social distancing and other precautions to help stop the virus, he said.
“Please, we do not want to do that again, we have progressed a lot. This is not the time to trust oneself,” he warned.
Biden’s speech comes almost exactly one year after then-President Donald Trump sat at the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office. Trump addressed the nation in a primetime address in which he warned of the threat of coronavirus. He also promised that the crisis would be “only something temporary that we will overcome as a nation and as a world.
