Biden began the event with remarks about the vaccination rollout in the U.S. While the third doses are important, Biden said that the priority for his administration is getting first and second shots in the arms of the remaining 23 percent of Americans who have not received a single dose of the vaccine.
“This is a pandemic of the unvaccinated,” Biden said. “That’s why I’m moving forward with vaccination requirements wherever I can.”
He added that he will travel to Chicago later this week to discuss the importance of businesses initiating their own vaccine requirements and that the U.S. will continue its efforts to send vaccines to countries in need around the world.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted to recommend booster doses for older adults, long-term care residents and people with underlying health conditions and those at an increased risk of contracting COVID-19 because of their job.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued its authorization for those 65 and older and other immunocompromised people to get a third shot. Biden is 78 years old.
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A reporter asked the president to address world health leaders who have said wealthy nations should help ensure people in other countries receive their first and second shots before rolling out third doses.
“We are doing more than any other nation in the world combined,” Biden said.
World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called for a “moratorium on boosters” until the end of September “to allow those countries that are furthest behind to catch up.”
He added that the U.S. is donating “well over 100 million” vaccine doses and has given “a great deal of funding to COVAX” to ensure everyone in the world can get a vaccine.
“We know that to beat that pandemic and to save lives, to keep our children safe, our schools open, our economy going, we need to get folks vaccinated,” he said during his initial remarks. “So, please, please do the right thing.”
“This is a pandemic of the unvaccinated,” Biden said. “That’s why I’m moving forward with vaccination requirements wherever I can.”
He said he will travel to Chicago Wednesday to discuss why businesses should implement their own vaccine requirements.
“I know it doesn’t look like it but I am over 65,” the President joked, “way over.”
Biden said that booster shots are important, but the priority is to get more people to receive the first and second shots.
Over 77 percent of adults have received at least one shot, he said. But the 23 percent who haven’t received any shots are “causing a lot of damage for the rest of the country,” Biden said.
“Hard to acknowledge I’m over 65, but I’ll be getting my booster shot,” Biden said Friday.
You can watch the event live on the White House YouTube page.
