Statement: U.S. PIRG will work alongside Biden administration to increase COVID-19 vaccinations

If more Americans get vaccinated we can cripple this virus

U.S. PIRG

WASHINGTON — In his first address before a joint session of Congress, President Joe Biden touted his administration’s success in facing the primary challenge of his first 100 days in office: the COVID-19 pandemic he inherited. The number of monthly U.S. deaths from the coronavirus has dropped from nearly 100,000 in January to just under 10,000 so far in April. The president urged more Americans to get vaccinated so that we can effectively neutralize the virus. 

In response to the president’s speech, U.S. PIRG President Faye Park released the following statement:

“We can all be grateful that so many of us are fully or partially immunized after the Biden administration streamlined the vaccine rollout. Now, every American 16 and older has the opportunity to get their shots. However, public health professionals have warned for months that this pandemic won’t end until we achieve herd immunity, and we still have a long way to go toward vaccinating enough people to reach that goal.

“As some Americans grapple with questions about the vaccines, it’s essential that we educate people about their safety and benefits. We also need to continue safety precautions such as mask wearing, physical distancing, and avoiding indoor gatherings until more people are vaccinated, especially as highly contagious variants of the coronavirus are spreading. Otherwise, as is the case in some places already, we risk backsliding on hard-won progress against the virus. 

“We look forward to working alongside the Biden administration to implement an effective plan to increase vaccination rates and cripple the virus.”