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 Biden told reporters the United States will reach a mark of 160
million Americans being fully vaccinated by the end of this week,
but he warned against complacency as the Delta variant spreads among
those who have not been inoculated.
"Millions of Americans are still unvaccinated and unprotected. And
because of that, their communities are at risk, their friends are at
risk, the people they care about are at risk," Biden said. "This is
an even bigger concern because of the Delta variant."
Biden said the variant was already responsible for "half of all
cases in many parts of this country."
The Delta variant, which is becoming dominant in many countries, is
more easily transmitted than earlier versions of the coronavirus and
may cause more severe disease, especially among younger people. It
has now been found in every U.S. state, health officials have said.
Biden noted that studies have shown that since early May virtually
every COVID-19 hospitalization or death in the United States had
been among people who were not vaccinated.
"Please get vaccinated now," he said. "It works. It's free. It's
never been easier, and it's never been more important."
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 Biden said his administration
would devote the remainder of the summer toward
getting more people vaccinated, including going
door-to-door in neighborhoods to get help to
more people who are unprotected from the virus.
He said 42,000 local pharmacies would serve as
vaccine sites. Renewed emphasis would be placed
on getting vaccines to family doctors and
medical providers as well, including those who
serve younger people.
Vaccines would also be made available at
workplaces, if possible, and more mobile clinics
would be used to help at summer festivals,
sporting events and houses of worship.
(Reporting by Andrea Shalal and Jeff Mason;
Editing by Bill Berkrot)
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