President Biden’s remarks that he wants to get to 1.5 million vaccine doses per day goes against the White House’s official goals, which remain unchanged. Biden’s lofty coronavirus goals and new travel restrictions received little pushback from mainstream media.
Summary
After mild pushback that his 100 million vaccinations goal was already being met by the Trump administration, President Joe Biden raised expectations by saying he hopes “we’ll be able to increase as we go along so we’ll get to 1.5 million [vaccinations a day].”
- The pledge came despite Biden’s CDC director telling Fox News on Sunday the administration doesn’t know how many vaccine doses are available.
- Biden also increased travel restrictions yesterday as part of efforts against the coronavirus. BBC news noted Biden called travel bans xenophobic last year.
- New vaccine development hit a snag as Merck announced it is ending two potential vaccine candidates after less than promising results.
- Biden’s goal of “herd immunity” by summer faces daunting odds, as Axios noted the United States would have to exceed Biden’s lofty goal of 1.5 million vaccinations a day by nearly 33% to hit that goal.
- CNN’s report on Biden’s remarks buries quotes from an unnamed White House official lowering expectation once again, saying 100 million vaccination shots in 100 days was still the “official goal.”
- Without mentioning President Biden’s new travel restrictions for South Africa, The Washington Post reported on warnings from the South African President that poorer nations do not have the same access to COVID-19 vaccines.
- Vox reported on the new phenomenon of a small group of people getting vaccinations “by simply being in the right place at the right time “ as daily doses are at risk of expiring at vaccination sites.
- Fox News highlighted British TV host Piers Morgan’s roasting of American journalists for “fawning” over Biden even as Biden erroneously said the media had been attacking his coronavirus plans.
- Congressman Ronny Jackson, who also served as the White House physician, told Newsmax Biden took “everything President Trump has done to combat this virus, and they’ve re-labeled it as the Biden plan.”
- As vaccine supplies shrink and expectations grow, American Thinker provided commentary that shows those who are “most likely in need of a vaccine” after healthcare workers and the elderly are among those least likely to receive them.
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© Dallas Gerber, 2021
