Biden Expressed Optimism on Covid-19 Vaccine Approval for Young Children, Urges Unvaccinated Americans to Get Shots

Strategic Insights -

Covid-19 vaccine approval for young children could come as early as the beginning of the school year, with President Joe Biden expressing optimism about the prospects of rapid approval. Speaking at a televised town hall in Cincinnati, Biden said that he expects the FDA and CDC to make a decision on vaccinating kids under 12 by August or later in the fall, but emphasized that the ultimate decision lies with the regulatory officials. Meanwhile, he urged unvaccinated Americans to take the "gigantically important" step of getting their shots as the virus surges across the US.

Key Takeaways:

  • Biden expressed optimism that young children would soon become eligible for Covid-19 inoculations, with approval potentially coming by August or later in the fall.
  • The President emphasized that the ultimate decision on vaccinating kids under 12 lies with regulatory officials at the FDA and CDC.
  • He urged unvaccinated Americans to take the "gigantically important" step of getting their shots, citing the risk of severe illness and death from Covid-19 for those who are not vaccinated.
  • Only 56.2% of Americans have gotten at least one dose of the vaccine, according to the CDC, with cases nearly tripling in the US over the past two weeks.
  • Biden expressed frustration with the low vaccination rates, stating that the pandemic "is a real issue for those who haven't gotten vaccinated."
  • Public health experts pointed out that while the virus can still pose a deadly risk to vaccinated individuals, especially immunocompromised people, the risk is significantly lower.
  • Biden indirectly referenced high-profile conservative personalities at Fox News who are now more openly speaking to their skeptical guests and viewers about the benefits of getting vaccinated.

Statistics:

  • Covid-19 cases have nearly tripled in the US over the past two weeks, with a seven-day rolling average for daily new cases rising to over 37,000 on Tuesday.
  • Only 56.2% of Americans have gotten at least one dose of the vaccine, according to the CDC.
  • The pandemic has taken a devastating toll, with over 37,000 cases reported in the US on Tuesday, and a rising number of hospitalizations and deaths.

Sources:

  • "President Biden: COVID-19 vaccination approval for children 'at the beginning of school year'," CNN, [Wednesday, Reference TBD]
  • "FDA official says COVID-19 vaccine approval for younger children could come by midwinter," NBC News, [Last week, Reference TBD]
  • "Moderna launches trials for COVID-19 vaccine in children under 12," NBC News, [March, Reference TBD]
  • "Pfizer-BioNTech launches trials for COVID-19 vaccine in children under 12," NBC News, [March, Reference TBD]
  • "CDC recommends masks for all individuals (age 2 and older) who are not fully vaccinated," CDC, [Reference TBD]
  • "COVID-19 cases nearly triple in US over past two weeks," Johns Hopkins University, [Reference TBD]