Everyone over the age of 16 is now eligible to receive a coronavirus vaccine, President Joe Biden’s administration announced.
The administration reiterated a previous announcement at a press briefing from Biden’s COVID-19 response team on Monday morning. The announcement was a confirmation of Biden’s previous announcement that all Americans would be eligible by April 19. (*RELATED: Biden Kicks Off First Solo Press Conference By Declaring New Vaccine Goal: 200 Million Vaccinations In First 100 Days)
“If you’re 16 and over now is your turn to get vaccinated no matter where you live,” says @aslavitt46. “It has never been easier to get a shot.” #CoronavirusUSA pic.twitter.com/WwmU3mVJxT
— Steve Herman (@W7VOA) April 19, 2021
209 million COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered nationally, @CDCDirector says, including 192.8 million in the first 88 days of Biden WH.
40% of US. population has received at least one dose and 25% are fully vaccinated. More than 65% of seniors are fully vaccinated. pic.twitter.com/f9W8NSh1uK
— Joey Garrison (@joeygarrison) April 19, 2021
The announcement comes a week after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention paused the distribution of Johnson & Johnson vaccines following a study showing that six people out of 6.8 million developed blood clots after receiving the vaccine. Biden’s coronavirus response team said the pause on J&J vaccines will not affect Americans’ access to a vaccine.
Dr. Anthony Fauci has said the J&J vaccine is likely to return to use in some form.
“I can give you my estimate. My estimate is that we will continue to use it in some form,” Fauci said during a Sunday interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
“I doubt very seriously if they just cancel it. I don’t think that’s going to happen,” he said.
“I do think we will get it back in some manner or form,” he said. “I hope that we don’t see anything extended beyond Friday. We need to get Friday, some decision one way or the other.”