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The Biden administration is likely to miss the target of vaccinating 70% of American adults with at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine by July 4, according to the country’s health officials. The target had been set by US President Joe Biden to speed up the process of vaccination. Dr. Anthony Fauci has, meanwhile, raised alarm on the new Delta variant of coronavirus which he calls the biggest threat to American efforts to eradicate the pandemic.
Jeffrey Zinets, senior advisor for COVID-19 to the White House, said on Tuesday that the country would take a few more weeks to complete the target of 70% vaccination. She emphasised the need to encourage Americans in the age group of 18 to 26 years to get vaccinated. “The reality is many younger Americans have felt like COVID-19 is not something that impacts them,” Zinets explained.
The Biden administration is on track to deliver the first dose to 70% of Americans above the age of 27 by July 4, the officials added. However, the vaccination rate has increased by less than 1% during the last two weeks. Till now, only 15 of the total 50 states in the US have achieved the 70% inoculation target.
Meanwhile, renowned infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci has expressed concern over the delta variant of Coronavirus which was first detected in India. Talking to the press, he assured that the vaccines currently in use were effective in neutralising the Delta variant. “We have the tools, so let’s use them and crush the outbreak,” Dr. Fauci said in a bid to encourage vaccination.