U.S.
likely to miss July 4 COVID-19 vaccine target, White House says
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[June 23, 2021]
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The United States
will likely fail to meet President Joe Biden's goal to deliver at least
one COVID-19 vaccine to 70% of adults by July 4, officials said on
Tuesday and warned the Delta variant first found in India poses the
greatest threat to U.S. eradication efforts.
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They said the administration is poised to meet the target for adults
27 and older on July 4, U.S. Independence Day, but will fall short
of Biden's goal for adults 18 and older.
"Our focus from the beginning has been continuing to redouble our
efforts among demographics and groups where we need extra
assistance," White House press secretary Jen Psaki said.
White House COVID-19 senior adviser Jeffrey Zients said it would
likely take a few weeks beyond July 4 to meet Biden's target.
"The country has more work to do... particularly with 18- to
26-year-olds," Zients told reporters.
"The reality is many younger Americans have felt like COVID-19 is
not something that impacts them, and they've been less eager to get
the shot."
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2021/Jun/23/images/ads/current/graue_sda_042021.png)
The Delta variant is the greatest threat to the effort to eradicate
COVID-19 within U.S. borders, U.S. infectious disease expert Dr.
Anthony Fauci said during a call with reporters.
Fauci said existing vaccines were effective against the new variant,
which is more transmissible than the original variant.
"We have the tools, so let's use them and crush the outbreak," Fauci
said.
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![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2021/Jun/23/images/ads/current/Culligan_lda_HOMETOWNHEROES_2021.png) The United States already has
vaccinated 70% of adults age 30 and older,
Zients said.
Fifteen of the 50 states and Washington, D.C.,
have delivered at least one shot to 70% of
adults 18 and older.
The rate of U.S. vaccinations has increased by
less than one percentage point over the past two
weeks and would have to more than double over
the next two weeks for the United States to hit
Biden's target.
Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and other
top officials have deployed a campaign-style
push encouraging more Americans to get shots in
order to protect public health as well as reopen
the economy and return the country to a path of
normalcy.
Racial imbalances in vaccination rates, the
Delta variant and the challenge of convincing
young American adults they should protect
themselves with the vaccine remain roadblocks.
(Reporting by Susan Heavey, Steve Holland and
Carl O'Donnell; Editing by Howard Goller)
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