{"id":115547,"date":"2021-03-02T22:39:59","date_gmt":"2021-03-03T06:39:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/69.46.6.243\/?p=115547"},"modified":"2021-03-02T22:39:59","modified_gmt":"2021-03-03T06:39:59","slug":"president-biden-on-the-administrations-covid-19-vaccination-efforts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/?p=115547","title":{"rendered":"President Biden on the Administration\u2019s COVID-19 Vaccination Efforts"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Washington, DC&#8230; 4:22 P.M. EST. THE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon, folks. The Vice President and I have some good news to report, and I\u2019d like to make two key announcements today related to our COVID-19 vaccination effort.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/VEsa1Zl7g0Y\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>As you know, a few days ago, after a rigorous opening \u2014 open and objective scientific review process, the Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency use authorization for the Johnson &amp; Johnson COVID-19 vaccine. We should all be encouraged by this news of a third safe and highly effective COVID-19 vaccine. The more people who get vaccinated, the faster we\u2019re going to overcome this virus and get back to our loved ones, get our economy back on track, and start to move back to normal.<\/p>\n<p>But that\u2019s \u2014 one of my first goals in office was \u2014 when I got into office was to say that there will be 100 million vaccination shots administered in my first 100 days in office. We\u2019ve got halfway to that goal in 37 days, and I feel confident we\u2019ll make it all the way.<\/p>\n<p>As I \u2014 and as I\u2019ve said, we have a long way to go, but, you know, as I said from the outset, we\u2019re going to use every resource of the federal government to make it happen. Among the things I learned when I came into office was that Johnson &amp; Johnson was behind in manufacturing and production. While we pote- \u2014 while we had the potential of another highly effective vaccine to accompany the two existing vaccines, it simply wasn\u2019t coming fast enough. So my team \u2014 my team has been hard at work to accelerate that effort.<\/p>\n<p>As I\u2019ve always said, this was a wartime effort, and every action has been on the table, including putting together breakthrough approaches.<\/p>\n<p>And today, we\u2019re announcing a major step forward: Two of the largest healthcare and pharmaceutical companies in the world \u2014 that are usually competitors \u2014 are working together on the vaccine. Johnson &amp; Johnson and Merck will work together to expand the production of Johnson &amp; Johnson\u2019s vaccine. This is the type of collaboration between companies we saw in World War Two.<\/p>\n<p>We also invoked the Defense Production Act to equip two Merck facilities to the standards necessary to safely manufacture the J&amp;J vaccine. And with the urging and assistance of my administration, Johnson &amp; Johnson is also taking additional new actions to safely accelerate vaccine production. Johnson &amp; Johnson\u2019s vaccine manufacturing facilities will now begin to operate 24\/7.<\/p>\n<p>In addition, we\u2019ll continue to use the Defense Production Act to expedite critical materials in vaccine production, such as equipment, machinery, and supplies.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019ve also asked the Department of Defense to provide daily logistical support to strengthen Johnson &amp; Johnson\u2019s efforts. And I want to thank Johnson &amp; Johnson and Merck for stepping up and being good corporate citizens during this national crisis.<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s what all this means: We\u2019re now on track to have enough vaccine supply for every adult in America by the end of May.<\/p>\n<p>Let me say that again: When I came into office, the prior administration had contracted for not nearly enough vaccine to cover adults in America. We rectified that. About three weeks ago, we were able to say that we\u2019ll have enough vaccine supply for adults by the end of July.<\/p>\n<p>And I\u2019m pleased to announce today, as a consequence of the stepped-up process that I\u2019ve ordered and just outlined, this country will have enough vaccine supply \u2014 I\u2019ll say it again \u2014 for every adult in America by the end of May. By the end of May. That\u2019s progress \u2014 important progress.<\/p>\n<p>But it\u2019s not enough to have the vaccine supply. We need vaccinators \u2014 people to put the shots in people\u2019s arms, millions of Americans\u2019 arms.<\/p>\n<p>To date, we\u2019ve brought back retired doctors and nurses. We\u2019ve developed \u2014 we deployed more than 1,500 federal medical personnel you usually see during natural disasters, from the Federal Emergency Management Agency \u2014 FEMA \u2014 and the Commissioned Health Corps at the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Defense Department, including the National Guard, with thousands of more to come.<\/p>\n<p>We\u2019re also increasing the places where people can get vaccinated. We\u2019ve sent millions of vaccines to over 7,000 pharmacies to make it easier for folks to get their COVID-19 vaccine shot like they would their flu shot.<\/p>\n<p>The federal government is also working with states to set up hundreds of mass vaccination centers in places like stadiums, community centers, parking lots that vaccinate thousands of people per day. My wife Jill and I just visited one in Houston last week. It\u2019s incredible.<\/p>\n<p>And with this increased production of three safe and effective vaccines, we have an opportunity to help address the urgent national need more quickly and getting our schools back open safely.<\/p>\n<p>Right now, an entire generation of young people is on the brink of being set back a year or more in their learning. You can ask millions of parents; they understand. We\u2019re already seeing rising mental health concerns due in part to isolation.<\/p>\n<p>Educational disparities that have always existed grow wider each day that our schools remain closed. And remote learning isn\u2019t the same for every student, as you all know.<\/p>\n<p>Our educators are doing everything they can to protect and educate our students, despite the lack of resources and as districts face budget crises that risk education jobs.<\/p>\n<p>Moms and dads are exiting the workforce in astonishing numbers in order to care for and manage the school experience for their children at home, hindering their own opportunities for \u2014 and further undermining the health of our economy.<\/p>\n<p>This is a national imperative that we get our kids back into the classroom safely and as soon as possible. As you know, back in December, I set a goal of having a majority of our K-through-8 schools open by the end of my first 100 days as President.<\/p>\n<p>To achieve that goal, I sent the American Rescue Plan to Congress to provide vital help to make sure schools can open safely \u2014 reopen safely. Essential things like more teachers to reduce class sizes, more buses and bus drivers to transport our kids safely, and more space to conduct in-person instructions, and more protective equipment, school cleaning services, physical alterations to reduce the risk of the spread of the virus. All cost money. The House passed the American Rescue Plan last week, and I hope the Senate will follow as quickly and as well.<\/p>\n<p>You know, also, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the CDC, issued new guidelines on how to reopen schools safely. It\u2019s a roadmap that will enable schools \u2014 if they have the resources they deserve \u2014 to reopen safely. I have given those schools a roadmap. I\u2019ve asked Congress to give them the tools. And today, to add one more tool to school reopening: a vaccinated workforce.<\/p>\n<p>Let me be clear: We can reopen schools if the right steps are taken, even before employees are vaccinated. But time and again, we\u2019ve heard from educators and parents that they have anxieties about that.<\/p>\n<p>So as yet another move to help accelerate the safe reopening of our schools, let\u2019s treat in-person learning like an essential service that it is. And that means getting essential workers who provide that service \u2014 educators, school staff, childcare workers \u2014 get them vaccinated immediately. They\u2019re essential workers.<\/p>\n<p>Over 30 states have already taken step to prior- \u2013prioritize educators for vaccination. And today, I\u2019m using the full authority of the federal government. I\u2019m directing every state to do the same. My challenge to all states, territories, and the District of Columbia is this: We want every educator, school staff member, childcare worker to receive at least one shot by the end of the month of March.<\/p>\n<p>To help make this happen, starting next week and for a month \u2014 the month of March, we will be using our federal pharmacy program to prioritize the vaccination of pre-K through 12 educators and staff and child-care workers. Throughout March, they will be able to prioritize the vaccination of pre-K-through-12 educators and staff and childcare workers. Throughout March, they will be able to sign up for an appointment at a pharmacy near them.<\/p>\n<p>And I want to be very clear: Not every educator will be able to get their appointment in the first week, but our goarl [sic] \u2014 goal is to do everything we can to help every educator receive a shot this month, the month of March.<\/p>\n<p>I want to conclude with this: We\u2019re making progress from the mess we inherited. We\u2019re moving in the right direction. And today\u2019s announcements are a huge step in our effort to beat this pandemic. But I have to be honest with you: This fight is far from over. I told you I\u2019d be straight up with you from the beginning. As I said many times, things may get worse again as new variants spread and as we face setbacks, like recent winter storms in the Midwest and South. But our administration will never take this public health threat lightly.<\/p>\n<p>Though we celebrate the news of the third vaccine, I urge all Americans: Please keep washing your hands, stay socially distanced, wear masks \u2014 keep wearing them, get vaccinated when it\u2019s your turn. Now is not the time to let up. I\u2019ve asked the country to wear masks for my first 100 days in office. Now is not the time to let our guard down. People\u2019s lives are at stake.<\/p>\n<p>We have already \u2014 we have already \u2014 and I carry this in my pocket \u2014 lost more \u2014 as of today, we\u2019ve lost more than 511,839 Americans, as of today. It\u2019s got to stop.<\/p>\n<p>We need the United States Senate to follow the House and pass the American Rescue Plan, because despite the optimism, without new resources, our entire effort will be set back. We need the resources in the American Rescue Plan and we need it urgently. We need them expanding testing, ramp up vaccine distribution, fund FEMA and other federal vaccine efforts, and continue reimbursing states for their efforts.<\/p>\n<p>We need the resources to expand genomic sequencing; to stay ahead of emerging variants; find the protective gear, transportation, staffing, and other costs required for school and business to open safely. We need to fund it. The bottom line is: We need the American Rescue Plan now. Now.<\/p>\n<p>There is light at the end of the tunnel, but we cannot let our guard down now or assure that victory is inevitable. We can\u2019t assume that. We must remain vigilant, act fast and aggressively, and look out for one another. That\u2019s how we\u2019re going to get ahead of this virus, get our economy going again, and get back to our loved ones.<\/p>\n<p>So thank you. And please, please, it\u2019s not over yet. Great news, but stay vigilant. May God bless you, and may God protect our troops. Thank you all very, very much.<\/p>\n<p>Q Mr. President, based on the news you announced, when do you think things will get back to normal? When do you think things will get back to normal?<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT: When do I think things will get back to normal? I\u2019ve been cautioned not to give an answer to that because we don\u2019t know for sure. But my hope is, by this time next year, we\u2019re going to be back to normal, and before that \u2014 my hope. But again, it depends upon if people continue \u2014 continue to be smart and understand that we still can have significant losses. There\u2019s a lot we have to do yet. So thank you.<\/p>\n<p>Q Did you receive a briefing about the border today?<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT: Yes, I did.<\/p>\n<p>Q What did you learn?<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT: A lot.<\/p>\n<p>Q Is there a crisis at the border, sir?<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT: No, we\u2019ll be able to handle it, God willing.<\/p>\n<p>END 4:34 P.M. EST<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Washington, DC&#8230; 4:22 P.M. EST. THE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon, folks. The Vice President and I have some good news to report, and I\u2019d like to make two key announcements today related to our COVID-19 vaccination effort. As you know, a few days ago, after a rigorous opening \u2014 open and objective scientific review process, the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1599,"featured_media":13330,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_cbd_carousel_blocks":"[]","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[20,5,33,4,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-115547","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-government","category-health-fitness","category-life-style","category-news","last_archivepost"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/whitehouselogo200.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/115547","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1599"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=115547"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/115547\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/13330"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=115547"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=115547"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=115547"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}