President Joe Biden got his fifth COVID-19 shot on Tuesday, telling Americans that they should get “one COVID shot a year.” Meanwhile, a large part of the country’s people have returned to their pre-pandemic lives.
The president televised his booster shot and made a speech urging Congress to continue funding the fight against COVID, which he called a “global health emergency.”
“It’s time to step up with much-need COVID funding. Help us stay ahead of the virus, and keep our communities going strong with free vaccines, free tests, and widely-available treatments,” Biden said.
“None of this is about politics. It’s about your health,” he added. It was the president’s fifth time getting a COVID-19 shot. He received his last booster in March.
Biden’s comments come as 47% of Americans have returned to their pre-COVID lives, according to the latest release of the Axios-Ipsos Coronavirus Index. Seniors are the most likely to get boosted, but even their interest in the shot is declining, with 71% receiving a first booster and only 44% receiving a second.
The administration has struggled to get Americans boosted before Thanksgiving, despite spending billions of dollars on updated shots. The White House has advocated for increased vaccinations in press briefings, with COVID response coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha saying on Oct. 11 that “COVID is not over” and that hundreds of Americans are still dying every day from the disease.
The White House also released a video telling people to “avoid a spooky Thanksgiving” by getting boosted.
Avoid a spooky Thanksgiving.
https://t.co/5SMDHKKopq. pic.twitter.com/cvHEr8pmJR— The White House (@WhiteHouse) October 25, 2022
A New York court ruled Tuesday that New York City must reinstate employees who were fired for being unvaccinated and grant them backpay. The ruling noted that getting the vaccine does not stop the virus from spreading. (RELATED: Court Orders New York City To Reinstate Unvaccinated Employees, Give Backpay)
“[B]eing vaccinated does not prevent an individual from contracting or transmitting COVID-19 … the Petitioners should not have been terminated for choosing not to protect themselves,” the court’s decision read.