US Admits Falling Short... "70% Vaccination by Independence Day Difficult"

Slowing Vaccination Rate
Vaccination Key for Under 27s

Jeff Zients, White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator
[Photo by AP]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] The Biden administration in the United States will not be able to achieve its goal of having at least 70% of adults receive at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine by Independence Day on July 4th.

Jeff Zients, the White House COVID-19 coordinator, stated at a briefing on the 22nd (local time), "It looks like it will take a few more weeks to vaccinate 70% of adults with at least one dose." He also said that the goal of completing vaccinations for 160 million Americans by the same period will not be met.

The Biden administration had set Independence Day as a date to celebrate "independence from COVID-19," raising expectations for a return to normal life. As of today, 12 days before the target date, 65.4% of adults have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

In the U.S., the recent significant slowdown in vaccination rates has made it difficult to meet the deadline. After peaking at an average of 3.4 million vaccinations per day in April, the number has gradually decreased to about 850,000 per day currently.

The Biden administration sees vaccinating adults aged 18 to 26 as key to increasing the vaccination rate. Coordinator Zients said, "Currently, 70% of Americans aged 30 and older have received at least one dose," and "By Independence Day, those aged 27 and older will also reach the target."

He self-assessed that although the original goal was not achieved, there were accomplishments. Coordinator Zients said, "We have achieved success beyond high expectations," adding, "The U.S. is ready to welcome a historic Independence Day with large-scale regional celebrations nationwide instead of small backyard gatherings."