Biden sets new goal to vaccinate 70% of American adults by July 4

By Alyssa Wilson Published: May 6, 2021

Biden sets new goal to vaccinate 70% of American adults by July 4

President Joe Biden speaks during a meeting with lawmakers to discuss the American Jobs Plan in the Oval Office of the White House, Monday, April 12, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

By: Alyssa Wilson

On Tuesday, President Biden set a new vaccination goal to administer at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine to 70% of adults in the United States by the Fourth of July.

According to the Associated Press, demand for the vaccine has dropped. Some states are leaving more than half of their available doses unordered.

Biden has instructed these states to make vaccines available for people at pharmacies without appointments and on a walk-in basis.

More than 56% of American adults have received at least one dose of the vaccine and more than 100 million people are fully vaccinated. The president’s administration will now focus on adults who need to be convinced to take the vaccine, those who are in no hurry to be vaccinated and adolescents between the ages of 12 and 15.

The FDA is expected to approve the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for use in the 12 to 15 age group in the coming days.

As daily vaccination rates continue to decline, experts now predict the United States will not reach herd immunity. Doctors still encourage people to get the vaccine to protect against COVID-19.