White House officials announced on Friday that one hundred million Americans have received their second shot of the COVID-19 vaccine. This major milestone for the U.S. comes well ahead of schedule.
Approximately 55% of American adults have received one or more shots of the vaccine. A fully vaccinated person is one who has received two doses of Pfizer or Moderna, or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. As second doses are administered, this number will continue to rise steadily. “That’s 100 million Americans with a sense of relief and peace of mind, knowing that after a long and hard year, they’re protected from the virus,” said Jeff Zients, White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator. The following phase of the vaccine programme will focus on Americans that are harder to reach. Medical professionals are emphasizing the need to reduce hesitancy towards the vaccine and improve confidence. Furthermore, they are encouraging vaccinated people to inspire their families and friends to get vaccinated too.
Although a large proportion of the population has been vaccinated, an unexpected drop off in the vaccination rate may mean the remainder of citizens might not receive a vaccination. This would have detrimental effects on the country’s attempt to eradicate the virus. Despite warnings, some states are continuing to move ahead with the easing of restrictions. Meanwhile, Disneyland in California reopened on Friday morning. This marked the park’s longest closure in history, after being shut for 412 days. This came after California recorded case rates as 33 cases per 100,000 people. Locals anticipated this return and are marking it as a powerful symbol of the U.S. rebound from the pandemic. Cruise lines also welcomed news that they would be operating again in the U.S. by midsummer.
