President Biden invoked Americans’ love of country to increase vaccination rates in his Independence Day remarks, saying that getting vaccinated against COVID-19 is “the most patriotic thing you can do.”
The administration fell just short of its goal to administer at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to 70% of by July 4, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reporting Friday that about 67% of the U.S. adult population had received one dose or more.
“Two hundred and forty-five years ago, we declared our independence from a distant king,” Mr. Biden said Sunday in his remarks on the South Lawn of the White House. “Today, we’re closer than ever to declaring our independence from a deadly virus. That’s not to say the battle against COVID-19 is over. We’ve got a lot more work to do.”
Mr. Biden praised the progress against the virus, saying this year’s Independence Day celebration marked a turning point against the virus but warned of the risks the emerging delta variant still poses.
“This year, the Fourth of July is a day of special celebration, for we are emerging from the darkness of years; a year of pandemic and isolation; a year of pain, fear, and heartbreaking loss,” the president said.
“Don’t get me wrong, COVID-19 is — has not been vanquished. We all know powerful variants have emerged, like the delta variant, but the best defense against these variants is to get vaccinated,” he said.
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As of the time of his remarks, the president reported that 603,018 Americans had died from the virus.
The delta variant, which emerged in the U.S. in March, poses a significant challenge to progress against the virus, according to Yale Medicine epidemiologists who say the strain is more contagious and potentially more severe than other strains.
• Joseph Clark can be reached at jclark@washingtontimes.com.
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