“America is coming back:” Biden directs states to open vaccinations to all adults by May 1, eyes July 4 as a return to relative normalcy
In his first prime-time address, Biden calls on Americans to stay vigilant.
In his first prime-time address to the nation of his presidency Thursday night, President Joe Biden declared that the U.S. is turning the corner on the COVID-19 pandemic.
President Joe Biden talks to members of the press in the State Dining Room of the White House Tuesday, March 2, 2021, after delivering remarks during a COVID-19 announcement. (Official White House Photo by Adam Schultz)
The president said he would direct all states and territories to make anyone over the age of 18 eligible for the vaccine by no later than May 1. Biden said he expects Americans to be able to safely hold small gatherings by Jul. 4, saying the national holiday will mark “[not only] our independence as a nation, but we begin to mark our independence from this virus.”
The address comes exactly one year after the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. Now, with vaccine distribution averaging 2 million per day nationwide and competitors Johnson & Johnson and Merck teaming up to produce vaccines, the president is offering renewed optimism in the country’s ability to defeat the virus. Biden said the country is on track to get 100 million Americans vaccinated by day 60 of his presidency, 40 days earlier than his initial stated goal.
The speech occurred just hours after the president signed the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan into law, which includes stimulus payments of $1,400 to Americans who qualify and the allocation of money for vaccines, small businesses and more. “The only way to get our lives back, to get our economy back on track, is to beat the virus,” Biden said about his commitment to reviving the economy.
Despite the president’s optimism, he reminded Americans to proceed with caution during the coming months, calling on Americans to listen to health experts and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “We cannot let our guard down,” said Biden. “By Jul. 4 with your loved ones is the goal … but a lot can happen. We’ve got work to do to ensure that everyone has confidence in the safety and effectiveness of all three vaccines.”
Some conservative critics took issue with Biden’s affirmation that the administration would offer further guidance for fully vaccinated people.
“This is a free country,” said Fox News host Tucker Carlson. “How dare you tell us who we can spend the Fourth of July with?”
Others on the right criticized the president for allegedly taking credit for former President Donald Trump’s COVID relief planning. “Operation Warp Speed created by Trump is the reason why the rollout of the vaccine is successful,” conservative commentator Terrence K. Williams tweeted.
Conversely, many political experts and journalists praised the president’s address. Presidential historian Michael Beschloss called the speech “poignant, lovely, inspirational and yet honest and realistic” in a Tweet.
CNN commentator Van Jones commended the president’s choice of words throughout the speech. “He didn’t say ‘you need me,’ he said ‘I need you,’” Jones said on CNN following the speech. “And he stuck up for the Asian-American community that’s been living a horror for this entire time.”
The president plans to tour the country next week following the passage of the American Rescue Plan, his first major legislative achievement.
This article was written for the COM JO 200 Newswriting class at Boston University during the Spring 2021 Semester. Special thanks to Professor Christopher B. Daly for his guidance and support.