In his first primetime presidential address, President Biden delivers a message of hope.
In President Biden’s first primetime presidential address on Thursday evening, he delivered the encouraging news that he has ordered all 50 states to get all adults vaccinated by May 1st, and that he thinks the U.S. is on track to having a normal July 4th celebration.
With this hopeful goal, the President noted that not every adult will be able to “get lined up beginning May 1” to get their shot, but the administration is making strides to make vaccination scheduling more accessible than ever.
Plan to streamline the vaccination administration
“We will launch with our partners new tools to make it easier for you to find the vaccine and where to get the shot, including a new website that will help you find a place to get vaccinated and the one nearest you,” said President Biden.
President Biden’s initial goal of administering 100 million shots by his 100th day in office is on track to be surpassed by his 60th day in office — and it is only day 50 right now.
The President also emphasized the work his administration has done so far to ramp up the vaccine distribution, and specifically cited working with all governors, regardless of party affiliation, on setting up 600 federally-supported vaccination centers that can administer thousands of shots per day.
Plan to reopen schools safely
Following a thank you to the House and the Senate for passing the American Rescue Plan, the President noted that the number one priority of his new Secretary of Education, Miguel Cardona, will be to “accelerate massive nationwide effort to reopen our schools safely.”
July 4 as a day for a potential celebration
A key point of President Biden’s address was for every American to do their part in order to obtain the goal of celebrating an Independence Day on July 4th. This celebration would still mean only small groups would be able to get together, though.
“After this long, hard year, we will make this Independence Day something truly special where we not only mark out independence as a nation, but where we begin to mark our independence from this virus.
To obtain this goal, Americans cannot let their guards down. President Biden advised Americans to continue to listen to science, Dr. Fauci, and continue all the known measures of social distancing and mask-wearing as recommended by the CDC.
To close, President Biden recognized the immense loss the U.S., along with the rest of the world, has experienced over the past year. But, he sees the progress that has been made, both scientifically and in the collective action of the American people, as a sign of hope for better times ahead.
“After [a long] dark year, there is hope and light and better days ahead,” concluded Biden.