During a White House event on Tuesday, Vice President Biden advised Americans to seek out updated COVID booster shots while receiving his own dose.
Mr. Biden, who was joined by top government health officials and leaders of several of the nation’s major pharmacy chains, also lauded a variety of new initiatives unveiled by the firms to expedite vaccinations and combat the virus.
“We have a straightforward message: get vaccinated. Update your COVID vaccination. It’s quite effective, but the reality is that not enough people are utilizing it. We must change that so that everyone may enjoy a safe and healthy holiday season “President Obama stated.
President Joe Biden receives his improved COVID-19 booster on October 25, 2022, at the White House. Getty Pictures
After weeks of rising, official data indicate that the rate of new gunshots is begun to level out across the nation.
The CDC reported last week that over 19 million Americans have received an updated COVID booster dose. This is approximately 9 percent of the approximately 226 million Americans eligible for the boosters.
In the fall, the revised boosters targeting two subvariants of Omicron, which are the most prevalent strains in the United States, were introduced. This month, the Biden administration began a fresh advertising campaign to promote the vaccinations.
Unreviewed preliminary findings on the revised boosters’ efficacy against the BA.5 variant indicate that they induce at least comparable antibody responses to the previous formulation of the shots.
Every vaccinated American who is at least 5 years old and whose last COVID vaccination was administered at least two months ago is eligible to receive an updated booster injection this fall.
The president received his most recent vaccination around three months after testing positive for the virus in the summer. The CDC states that Americans recently infected with COVID-19 can wait three months before receiving the booster vaccine.
Mr. Biden also repeated Dr. Ashish Jha, the White House’s COVID response coordinator, in asking Americans to obtain their coronavirus boosters and annual flu vaccination before Halloween. Dr. Jha was present for Mr. Biden’s remarks.
“Currently is the time to act. By Halloween, if possible, is the optimal time. Consequently, you will be secured during the vacations. And while you’re at it, please get a flu shot “President Obama stated.
As part of the new initiatives outlined by Vice President Biden, Walgreens stated it will collaborate with Uber and DoorDash to distribute free Paxlovid prescriptions to underserved regions. In addition, the president urged schools and colleges to organize at least one immunization clinic by Thanksgiving and urged employers to continue providing paid leave for employees to receive vaccinations.
“As a nation, we have a decision to make. Can we anticipate a recurrence of the past winters, with more infections, hospitalizations, loved ones falling ill and even dying from the virus? Or, can we have a far better winter if we use all of the tools at our disposal? “asked Mr. Biden.
Recently, the federal government extended its paid leave policy to allow federal employees and their families to receive the new COVID booster while on the job.
According to the White House, the Department of Health and Human Services will also launch a vaccination tour on Wednesday to encourage families to receive the updated doses. The trip will include “pop-up” vaccination events.
At the NASCAR Cup Series Championship in Arizona, a pop-up clinic is anticipated, which aligns with the Biden administration’s plans to target communities with lower vaccine uptake.
The department will release new national and local television, radio, and print advertisements that target Black and Latino audiences in over 30 markets, as well as new football and country music-themed advertisements that target rural populations in 15 local markets. Social and digital advertisements on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Snapchat, and Reddit are also part of the Biden administration’s campaign.
Additionally, President Biden reiterated his demand for Congress to act on his long-delayed funding request for the COVID response.
“Some of our congressional allies argue that COVID money is unnecessary or that there is no rationale for the government to pay for it. I completely disagree “President Obama stated.
In recent weeks, Republicans have criticized the White House’s request for more funds to combat the virus by citing President Biden’s comments from earlier this year to “60 Minutes” that the COVID pandemic is “finished.”
Tuesday, Vice President Biden stated that COVID remained a “global health emergency.”
“If you truly wish to defeat COVID, we must continue to battle together. We cannot abandon individuals to their own devices “Mr. Biden remarked.