Joe Biden.Photo: SAUL LOEB/getty images
During his CNN town hall in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Tuesday evening,Joe Bidenreassured a second-grade girl who asked when children will be able to receive the novel coronavirus vaccine.
Jessica Salas, a graphic designer, told the president how frightening the ongoing pandemic has been for her children, including 8-year-old daughter Layla, who stood with her mom at the microphone.
“They are watching as others get the vaccine, and they would like to know, when will kids be able to get the vaccine?” Salas asked, perfootage from CNN.
Joe Biden.SAUL LOEB/getty images
“We haven’t even done tests yet on children as to whether or not the certain vaccines would work or not work or what is needed,” he said. “You’re the safest group of people in the whole world.”
Biden added to the little girl that it was unlikely that she would spread the virus to her parents, and vice versa.
“A year from now, I think that there’ll be significantly fewer people having to be socially distanced, have to wear a mask, etc. But we don’t know,” he said, “so I don’t want to over-promise anything here.”
The president added that improvements in the pandemic will only happen if people continue to wear masks, social distance and wash their hands.
Milwaukee marks Biden’s first official trip as president. In addition to his short stay in Wisconsin, the president will be heading to Michigan on Thursday to visit a Pfizer manufacturing site in Kalamazoo,USA Todayreported.
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“I’m tired of talking about Trump,” Biden quipped during Tuesday’s town hall.
Prior to his inauguration, Biden has long said managing theCOVID-19 pandemicis his administration’s main priority. He is currently pushing Congress to approve his$1.9 trillion COVID stimulus package.
President Joe Biden.The White House/YouTube
Republicans have objected to the scope of the aid offered in the proposal, while the White House argues the economic damage from the pandemic requires a widespread response.
JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty
“We’ve now purchased enough vaccine supplies to vaccinate all Americans,” Biden said, viaUSA Today, something he reiterated Tuesday night. “Now we’re working to get those vaccines into the arms of millions of people.”
He noted that the timeline could further accelerate if a third COVID-19 vaccine from Johnson & Johnson receives FDA approval.
Biden is also already establishing positive relations with foreign leaders. U.K. Prime MinisterBoris Johnsonsaid Sunday that he and Biden have already had a number of “fantastic conversations” within the new president’s first four weeks in office, per CBS News’Face the Nation.
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Claudia Harmata
source: people.com
