With the Biden administration already ramping up efforts to make sure everyone is vaccinated, President Joe Biden brought more good news for adults across the country. Biden announced that there would be enough vaccines for all US adults until the end of May.
Biden announced this week that the supply of vaccines would be enough for all US adults by the end of May. This comes two months earlier than what was previously predicted. Biden also urged the states to have teachers already receive one shot of the COVID-19 vaccine by the end of March in order to speed up efforts in reopening schools. Biden also announced a third vaccine would be on its way soon as Merck will be manufacturing the vaccine developed by rival company Johnson & Johnson, which was recently approved by the FDA.
Even with the increased rollout of the COVID-19 vaccines, officials have said that administering the vaccines to all Americans would wind up until the summer. This would depend on the government’s ability to deliver doses and how willing the American public is in getting inoculated. Biden may have raised expectations as to when the US could fully emerge from the global pandemic, however, he also noted that being able to fully emerge from the pandemic may still take a long time.
Certain states have also been relaxing COVID-19 restrictions against the advice given by top infectious diseases expert Dr. Anthony Fauci. Dr. Fauci warned against easing restrictions until more residents are able to be vaccinated.
In recent days, the state governors of Texas and Mississippi have decided to fully reopen their states as well as removing the mask mandates. Texas Governor Greg Abbott recently made an order to reopen everything at full capacity by next week, and prior to Abbott, Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves also ordered to reopen everything at full capacity, removing COVID-19 restrictions.
Biden took a swipe at Abbott’s decision to reopen everything when he was pressed on what he had to say about the removal of mask mandates in the state. “I think it’s a big mistake. Look, I hope everybody’s realized by now, these masks make a difference,” said Biden. “The last thing, the last thing we need is Neanderthal thinking that ‘In the meantime, everything’s fine, take off your mask, forget it.’ It still matters.”