WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden wants 70% of U.S. adults to have at least one COVID-19 shot by July 4, a goal he announced Tuesday along with steps to vaccinate harder-to-reach populations and preparations for vaccinating teenagers.
About 56% of adults have received at least one shot.
The pace of vaccinations required to reach 70% is much slower than the speed with which the nation got to its current levels.
Vaccinators are moving beyond the most vulnerable populations and those most eager to get vaccinated.
"There are millions of Americans who just need a little bit of encouragement to get the shot," Biden said. "We need you. We need you to bring it home."
Biden said the next phase could be more challenging than initial efforts, which required purchasing enough doses for every American and setting up a massive distribution system.
"It's harder. It's beyond my personal control," Biden said of the need to convince more people to get vaccinated.
