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| Biden to set new target of vaccinating 70% of US adults by Fourth of July – live | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| White House reportedly to make available unused vaccine supply to other states – follow all the day’s politics news | White House reportedly to make available unused vaccine supply to other states – follow all the day’s politics news |
| The US is currently administering first doses of coronavirus vaccine at a rate of about 965,000 per day. | |
| That is half the rate of three weeks ago, but nearly twice as fast as needed to meet Joe Biden’s target that he’ll be officially discussing at the White House moments from now of vaccinating 70% of adults in the US by Fourth of July. | |
| Biden’s new move to shift vaccine supply from states where demand is falling short of supply to other states where demand is high and unfulfilled is now a key priority. | |
| Governors were informed of the chance by the White House this morning, and the adjustment was first reported by the Washington Post. | |
| Joe Biden is setting a new vaccination goal to deliver at least one dose of coronavirus vaccine to 70% of US adults by the Fourth of July, independence day, the White House has just said. | Joe Biden is setting a new vaccination goal to deliver at least one dose of coronavirus vaccine to 70% of US adults by the Fourth of July, independence day, the White House has just said. |
| This as the administration pushes to make it easier for people to get shots and to bring the country closer to normality. | This as the administration pushes to make it easier for people to get shots and to bring the country closer to normality. |
| The Associated Press reports: | The Associated Press reports: |
| This comes amid a new move to shift vaccine orders and doses away from states with over-fulfilled demand to states with higher demand and a need for more supply. | This comes amid a new move to shift vaccine orders and doses away from states with over-fulfilled demand to states with higher demand and a need for more supply. |
| The US top public health official, Anthony Fauci, is steering the American public away from the idea of “herd immunity” against the coronavirus, as an official goal or a signal the pandemic is over. | The US top public health official, Anthony Fauci, is steering the American public away from the idea of “herd immunity” against the coronavirus, as an official goal or a signal the pandemic is over. |
| Fauci, along with other members of the White House coronavirus team, under both this regime and the Trump administration, regularly talk to state governors and he’s now called herd immunity (the point when a sufficient percentage of a population has become immune to an infection, whether through vaccination or previous infections) an elusive concept. | Fauci, along with other members of the White House coronavirus team, under both this regime and the Trump administration, regularly talk to state governors and he’s now called herd immunity (the point when a sufficient percentage of a population has become immune to an infection, whether through vaccination or previous infections) an elusive concept. |
| ABC reporter says: | ABC reporter says: |
| This echoes a theme the New York Times explored yesterday (subscription) and the sort of thing that medical experts or well-informed observers have been saying for a long time, basically that coronavirus isn’t going way and we’ll be living with it in some form going forward. | This echoes a theme the New York Times explored yesterday (subscription) and the sort of thing that medical experts or well-informed observers have been saying for a long time, basically that coronavirus isn’t going way and we’ll be living with it in some form going forward. |
| It’s interesting to wonder if there will be a point where the Biden administration will declare (at least for the time being) that coronavirus is under control in the US, on a national basis, at least. | It’s interesting to wonder if there will be a point where the Biden administration will declare (at least for the time being) that coronavirus is under control in the US, on a national basis, at least. |
| The pandemic has not been under control in the US at any time since the first coronavirus infections in early 2020. | The pandemic has not been under control in the US at any time since the first coronavirus infections in early 2020. |
| Here’s where the day stands so far: | Here’s where the day stands so far: |
| Joe Biden will deliver remarks on the coronavirus pandemic and his vaccine distribution strategy in about an hour. The president is expected to outline a new “use it or lose it” policy that will allow states’ unclaimed coronavirus vaccine doses to go into a federal pool for other states. | Joe Biden will deliver remarks on the coronavirus pandemic and his vaccine distribution strategy in about an hour. The president is expected to outline a new “use it or lose it” policy that will allow states’ unclaimed coronavirus vaccine doses to go into a federal pool for other states. |
| The FDA will likely soon authorize administering Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine to those between the ages of 12 and 15. Biden’s remarks this afternoon will probably also touch on the FDA’s timeline for authorizing the Pfizer shot for young teens. | The FDA will likely soon authorize administering Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine to those between the ages of 12 and 15. Biden’s remarks this afternoon will probably also touch on the FDA’s timeline for authorizing the Pfizer shot for young teens. |
| House minority leader Kevin McCarthy signaled openness to ousting Liz Cheney from her leadership position. “There’s no concern about how she voted on impeachment. That decision has been made,” McCarthy said of Cheney this morning. “I have heard from members concerned about her ability to carry out the job as conference chair, to carry out the message.” McCarthy’s comments come amid efforts by some House Republicans to remove Chenery as conference chairwoman. | House minority leader Kevin McCarthy signaled openness to ousting Liz Cheney from her leadership position. “There’s no concern about how she voted on impeachment. That decision has been made,” McCarthy said of Cheney this morning. “I have heard from members concerned about her ability to carry out the job as conference chair, to carry out the message.” McCarthy’s comments come amid efforts by some House Republicans to remove Chenery as conference chairwoman. |
| The blog will have more coming up, so stay tuned. | The blog will have more coming up, so stay tuned. |
| A reporter noted Facebook will issue a decision tomorrow on whether Donald Trump can rejoin the platform, after his account was suspended in response to the January 6 insurrection. | A reporter noted Facebook will issue a decision tomorrow on whether Donald Trump can rejoin the platform, after his account was suspended in response to the January 6 insurrection. |
| Asked whether the White House will change its messaging strategy if Trump is allowed to rejoin Facebook, Jen Psaki offered a one-word response: “No.” | Asked whether the White House will change its messaging strategy if Trump is allowed to rejoin Facebook, Jen Psaki offered a one-word response: “No.” |
| America’s total assistance to India amid the country’s coronavirus surge is expected to exceed $100 million, Jen Psaki told reporters. | America’s total assistance to India amid the country’s coronavirus surge is expected to exceed $100 million, Jen Psaki told reporters. |
| The White House press secretary said the US is sending about 1,500 oxygen cylinders and 550 oxygen concentrators to India, among other supplies. | The White House press secretary said the US is sending about 1,500 oxygen cylinders and 550 oxygen concentrators to India, among other supplies. |
| A number of countries have sent aid to India as the country grapples with the rapid spread of the virus. | A number of countries have sent aid to India as the country grapples with the rapid spread of the virus. |
| The Guardian’s Hannah Ellis-Petersen reports from Delhi: | The Guardian’s Hannah Ellis-Petersen reports from Delhi: |
| The White House press secretary, Jen Psaki, is now holding her daily briefing with reporters. | The White House press secretary, Jen Psaki, is now holding her daily briefing with reporters. |
| Psaki opened the briefing by noting the federal government will distribute 29 million coronavirus vaccine doses this week. | Psaki opened the briefing by noting the federal government will distribute 29 million coronavirus vaccine doses this week. |
| Asked what Joe Biden will say in his remarks on the pandemic this afternoon, Psaki said the president will describe “our goals for vaccinating Americans by middle of this summer” and plans to make vaccines “more available and accessible across the country”. | Asked what Joe Biden will say in his remarks on the pandemic this afternoon, Psaki said the president will describe “our goals for vaccinating Americans by middle of this summer” and plans to make vaccines “more available and accessible across the country”. |
| Multiple reports indicate the president will outline a new vaccine distribution strategy to allow states’ unused vaccine doses to go into a federal pool for other states. | Multiple reports indicate the president will outline a new vaccine distribution strategy to allow states’ unused vaccine doses to go into a federal pool for other states. |
| New York, New Jersey and Connecticut will allow businesses to operate at full capacity for the first time since the start of the pandemic, the governors of the three US states have announced. | New York, New Jersey and Connecticut will allow businesses to operate at full capacity for the first time since the start of the pandemic, the governors of the three US states have announced. |
| Capacity restrictions will be lifted for businesses, including restaurants, theaters, museums and gyms, marking a return to normal for an area that was once the center of the coronavirus pandemic. Combined, the three states have seen more than 85,000 deaths over the course of the pandemic. | Capacity restrictions will be lifted for businesses, including restaurants, theaters, museums and gyms, marking a return to normal for an area that was once the center of the coronavirus pandemic. Combined, the three states have seen more than 85,000 deaths over the course of the pandemic. |
| “Today is a milestone for New York state and a significant moment of transition,” New York’s governor, Andrew Cuomo, said at a recent press conference. The governor said that “life should be returning to normal” for those who are vaccinated, and those who are not vaccinated should see a return to normalcy as an incentive to get inoculated. | “Today is a milestone for New York state and a significant moment of transition,” New York’s governor, Andrew Cuomo, said at a recent press conference. The governor said that “life should be returning to normal” for those who are vaccinated, and those who are not vaccinated should see a return to normalcy as an incentive to get inoculated. |
| Cuomo also announced that New York City’s subway system will return to its 24-hour service beginning on 17 May, the first time since it ended the around-the-clock service in May 2020. Monday marked the first day when New Yorkers could sit at a bar after Cuomo lifted restrictions on food and beverage services last week. | Cuomo also announced that New York City’s subway system will return to its 24-hour service beginning on 17 May, the first time since it ended the around-the-clock service in May 2020. Monday marked the first day when New Yorkers could sit at a bar after Cuomo lifted restrictions on food and beverage services last week. |
| Reports of the Biden administration’s new “use it or lose it” vaccine distribution strategy come as demand for coronavirus vaccines has declined across the US. | Reports of the Biden administration’s new “use it or lose it” vaccine distribution strategy come as demand for coronavirus vaccines has declined across the US. |
| The Guardian’s Jessica Glenza reports: | The Guardian’s Jessica Glenza reports: |
| The Biden administration is adopting a “use it or lose it” policy when it comes to states’ unused coronavirus vaccine doses, according to a new report. | The Biden administration is adopting a “use it or lose it” policy when it comes to states’ unused coronavirus vaccine doses, according to a new report. |
| The Washington Post reports: | The Washington Post reports: |
| Joe Biden will likely explain the new policy when he delivers remarks on the pandemic and vaccine distribution strategy at the White House later this afternoon. | Joe Biden will likely explain the new policy when he delivers remarks on the pandemic and vaccine distribution strategy at the White House later this afternoon. |
| Michael Sainato reports for the Guardian: | Michael Sainato reports for the Guardian: |
| Maureen Haley, 66, lost her home in Florida in the wake of the 2008 recession. She now lives in a camper near Greensboro, North Carolina, relying on social security and Medicare to make ends meet and pay for healthcare. | Maureen Haley, 66, lost her home in Florida in the wake of the 2008 recession. She now lives in a camper near Greensboro, North Carolina, relying on social security and Medicare to make ends meet and pay for healthcare. |
| But Haley has problems with her teeth, and cannot afford to see a dentist to have them fixed. | But Haley has problems with her teeth, and cannot afford to see a dentist to have them fixed. |
| “My teeth problems are the biggest problem I have each day,” said Haley. “I need root canals and implants. I have a tooth impaction. I have to massage the heck out of it to get the air out of my gums and cheek after chewing a meal. Painful is an understatement, and the worry of how this may affect my heart compounds it.” | “My teeth problems are the biggest problem I have each day,” said Haley. “I need root canals and implants. I have a tooth impaction. I have to massage the heck out of it to get the air out of my gums and cheek after chewing a meal. Painful is an understatement, and the worry of how this may affect my heart compounds it.” |
| She worries about remaining independent, and not ending up in a nursing home. On a limited income, her decisions revolve around what is most pressing, such as fixing her vehicle and drug prescriptions. The last time she was able to visit a dentist was three years ago, and she was given an estimate of over $8,500 for the work she needs. | She worries about remaining independent, and not ending up in a nursing home. On a limited income, her decisions revolve around what is most pressing, such as fixing her vehicle and drug prescriptions. The last time she was able to visit a dentist was three years ago, and she was given an estimate of over $8,500 for the work she needs. |
| Haley is one of millions of Americans who have no dental insurance coverage and cannot afford to pay out of pocket for extensive dental care needs, including nearly two-thirds of Medicare beneficiaries – about 37 million people. An estimated 74 million Americans have no dental insurance coverage. A survey by CareQuest Institute for Oral Health released in April found an estimated 6 million Americans lost their dental insurance during the pandemic. | Haley is one of millions of Americans who have no dental insurance coverage and cannot afford to pay out of pocket for extensive dental care needs, including nearly two-thirds of Medicare beneficiaries – about 37 million people. An estimated 74 million Americans have no dental insurance coverage. A survey by CareQuest Institute for Oral Health released in April found an estimated 6 million Americans lost their dental insurance during the pandemic. |