WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden yesterday hailed his government’s “stunning” achievement in administering 200 million Covid-19 vaccine shots across the United States ahead of schedule.
He said the landmark had been reached a week before his administration hits its 100-day mark – the deadline he had announced for meeting the 200 million doses challenge.
“Today, we did it. Today, we hit 200 million shots,” he said in a televised speech from the White House.
This is “an incredible achievement for the nation”.
Biden called the 200 million shots in 100 days a “goal unmatched in the world or in prior mass vaccination efforts in American history”.
“The progress we’ve made has been stunning.”
Announcing a tax break to encourage businesses to give all employees a day off for vaccination, Biden said the country is “on track” to being able to celebrate the July 4th Independence Day holiday in relative normality.
But he warned that rising infections in parts of the country show that it is too early to declare victory.
“If we let up now and stop being vigilant, this virus will erase the progress.”
While the US leads the world in reported Covid-19 deaths, it has also raced ahead in the vaccination stakes, outperforming some major European countries and neighbouring Canada.
Biden came into office on January 20 initially vowing to get 100 million shots administered in his first 100 days. On March 25, with vaccination deliveries far ahead of their targets, he doubled the goal.
Starting in May, all states will be required to lift restrictions on eligibility for access to free shots. Many have already done that.
Dampening the celebratory mood in the White House is a surge of infections in parts of the country, including the state of Michigan.
Death rates, however, remain down nationwide as a result of a high vaccination rate among the elderly and improved care. – AFP, April 22, 2021
