COVID-19 vaccine.Photo: APU GOMES/AFP via Getty
A record number ofCOVID-19vaccine doses are being administered in the U.S. each day, speeding up the predicted timeline foropening up appointmentsto the entire adult population.
Previously, PresidentJoe Bidenset a goal of providing 100 million shots during his first 100 days in office. Havingsurpassed that goal, the White House is now aiming for 200 million.
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He added that reaching that goal will require keeping up the pace of vaccinating around 2.5 million Americans per day — “the equivalent of vaccinating a sellout crowd at Yankee Stadium 50 times a day or the entire population of the city of Houston in just one day,” he said.
As of Friday, 71 percent of those aged 65 and over had received at least one shot, according to Zients. In total, more than one-third of all adults had had at least one dose and more 47 million total adult Americans were fully vaccinated.
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“We will need to continue to build on this progress to meet our new goal of 200 million shots in the first 100 days,” Zients said. “And thanks to resources of the American Rescue Plan, we have the resources to scale up activity, fully implement this strategy, and put the pandemic behind us.”
Still, Zients cautioned that Americans must still be diligent in wearing masks and social distancing throughout the vaccine effort.
“It’s clear there is a case for optimism, but there is not a case for relaxation,” he said. “This is not the time to let down our guard. We need to follow the public health guidance, wear a mask, socially distance, and get a vaccine when it’s your turn.”
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source: people.com
