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 "The data couldn't be clearer ... if you're vaccinated, you're
safe," Biden told a Raleigh crowd that planned to visit
neighborhoods to advocate for getting the vaccine. "You are still at
risk of getting seriously ill or dying if you in fact have not been
vaccinated."
Only 55% of the southern state's adult population has had at least
one shot despite a slew of incentives, including a $1 million
lottery, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and
Human Services.
The White House acknowledged this week that it would not meet a
self-imposed deadline to get 70% of U.S. adults at least partially
vaccinated by July 4, noting that those aged 18 to 26 have been
especially reluctant to get the shots.
Biden's visit came as the more contagious Delta variant of the virus
is taking hold across the globe and emerging as the biggest obstacle
to stopping COVID-19 within U.S. borders, infectious disease expert
Anthony Fauci said earlier this week.
"Unvaccinated people are incredibly vulnerable," Biden said,
referencing the Delta variant.
[to top of second column] |
 Sixteen states and the District
of Columbia have reached Biden’s vaccination
goal, but the country as a whole and several
other states continue to lag.
(See a graphic on U.S. infection and
vaccinations rates here https://graphics.reuters.com/HEALTH-CORONAVIRUS/USA-TRENDS/dgkvlgkrkpb.)
The trip to North Carolina, Biden's first since
he took office in January, was one of a series
of COVID-related events on Thursday. First Lady
Jill Biden and Fauci were in Florida to visit
vaccine sites, including a drive-through site
and one at a hockey arena.
(Reporting By Jarrett Renshaw; additional
reporting by Jeff Mason; Editing by Heather
Timmons and Sonya Hepinstall)
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