By: Charles Hilu
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/author/charles-hilu
The Biden administration fell short of its 70% vaccination goal with the arrival of the Independence Day holiday on Sunday.
President Joe Biden hoped to have administered at least one shot to 70% of United States by Sunday, but the number sits at 67%, approximately 8 million people short of the goal, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
>>“We've made a lot of progress, I think more progress, it's fair to say, than anyone had expected, with 2 out of 3 Americans now with at least one shot of vaccine and importantly, close to 90% of those 65 years and older with one shot and close to 80% fully vaccinated. That's particularly important because we started the vaccination campaign focused on the most vulnerable,” said White House COVID Response Coordinator Jeff Zients on CBS News’s Face the Nation.
The president promised in March a “more normal Fourth of July” if a large majority of people received their vaccine by Independence Day. Since then, there have been several vaccine-related developments, including the CDC’s May 13 announcement that vaccinated people need not wear masks indoors.
Zients made the rounds on cable news shows to discuss the country’s failure to reach the 70% milestone on Sunday.
>>“Younger people, particularly those in their 20s, have felt less vulnerable to the disease and, therefore, less eager to get shots. They were made eligible later, so they have not been eligible as long, and we continue to see hundreds of thousands of young people vaccinated each week,” he said on ABC.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/white-house-misses-july-4th-vaccination-goal