Biden Gets Booster Shot, Says 97% Of Americans Need To Be Vaxx'd To Return To Normal
Just like he did when he received his first jab last year (before he was president), President Joe Biden, 78, posed for the cameras on Monday as he received his first booster jab while cameras clicked and flashed, and he delivered some brief remarks to the public.
The FDA granted an emergency use authorization last week for booster doses of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine six months after the completion of the two-dose course for those 65 and older, those with some underlying conditions and those who work in high-risk environments. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also recommended a booster shot for these groups of people.
Video of Biden's third inoculation circulated widely on Twitter Monday. Before he received the jab, Biden delivered a brief statement, claiming the White House is preparing for a possible government shutdown as leaders struggle to pass a budget by the end of this month.
Speaking on Monday, Biden emphasized that even though booster shots are important, getting fully vaccinated with the two-dose regimen is even more so.
"Let me clear. Boosters are important. But the most important thing we need to do is get more people vaccinated," the president said before getting his jab. "The vast majority of Americans are doing the right thing. Over 77% of adults have gotten at least one shot. About 23% haven't gotten any shots, and that distinct minority is causing an awful lot of us an awful lot of damage for the rest of the country. This is a pandemic of the unvaccinated. That's why I'm moving forward with vaccination requirements wherever I can."
The president said he thinks the US is "awful close" to having enough of its population vaccinated though he added that he's not a scientist. "But one thing is for certain. A quarter of the country can't go unvaccinated and us not continue to have a problem."
As for the Moderna and J&J jabs, boosters will likely be approved for those as well.
"Well, I think what's going to happen is you're going to see that, in the near term — or we're probably going to open this up anyway," he told reporters after a speech on the administration's vaccination campaign. "They're constantly looking at — we're looking at both Moderna and J&J. And we're both — as I said in the speech — in addition to that, we're also looking to the time when we're going to be able to expand the booster shots, basically, across the board."
At one point during the briefing, Biden said in response to a question that the US vaccination rate would need to be essentially 100% for the American economy to return to "normal".
REPORTER: How many Americans need to be vaccinated before getting back to normal?
— August Takala (@RudyTakala) September 27, 2021
BIDEN: Well, I think, look — I think we get the vast majority. 97, 98 percent. pic.twitter.com/mQ4ekSH5jN
To be clear, that directly contradicts findings from scientists who believe COVID is now endemic in the human population and will never go away completely.
Furthermore, here is the all-knowing Fauci in May:
“If we get to the president’s goal - which I believe we will attain - of getting 70 percent of people getting at least one dose, adults that is, by July 4, there will be enough protection in the community that I really don’t foresee there being the risk of a surge."
Bear in mind that Norway, which has just lifted 100% of all its COVID restrictions and has actually returned to normal, has a 67% vaccination rate among its population.
Readers can watch two clips from the briefing below:
POTUS about to get his COVID booster. The shot is from Pfizer. #POTUS pic.twitter.com/DWtvRHioFM
— Edward Lawrence (@EdwardLawrence) September 27, 2021
President Biden receives Covid booster shot. pic.twitter.com/P5SzNWUpiG
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) September 27, 2021
And readers can watch the full press briefing below:
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