POTUS, McConnell Each Receive COVID19 Booster As Recommended for Americans 65+
President Joe Biden received a Covid-19 booster shot Monday at the White House, just days after the CDC recommended a third shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for certain at-risk groups.
In a brief speech at the White House ahead of getting his third dose, the president said that “boosters are important, but the most important thing we need to do is get more people vaccinated.”
The roughly 23 percent of Americans who have not received a single shot are “causing an awful lot of damage for the rest of the country,” he said.
Biden, 78, received his second shot of the Pfizer vaccine on-camera in January. The new guidance says that people in the president’s age range should get a booster shot six months after their second dose.
I prefer presidents who don’t get vaccinated in secret.
— John Collins (@JohnCollins_KP) September 27, 2021
“I know it doesn’t look like it, but I am over 65,” President Biden said. “And that’s why I am getting my booster today.” First Lady Jill Biden, 70, will also receive a booster shot, the President said. He has also said that ultimately his administration plans to offer a booster to all Americans, and that scientists are working to review the data on booster shots for people who received the Moderna and the Johnson & Johnson vaccines.
Tune in as I deliver remarks and receive my COVID-19 booster shot. https://t.co/GurbbWdrvF
— President Biden (@POTUS) September 27, 2021
On Friday, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) endorsed a third shot of the Pfizer vaccine for people 65 years and older and residents in long-term care settings, as well as people 50 to 64 years old who have an underlying medical condition. She also surprised some by extending the endorsement to include essential workers such as teachers and grocery store employees, going further than the recommendations by a panel of CDC advisers.
Today, I followed the advice of experts and my doctors and received a booster vaccination for COVID-19. Mountains of evidence tell us these shots are safe and effective. I continue to encourage all Americans to speak with their doctors and get vaccinated. pic.twitter.com/u1zfYIk7Cb
— Leader McConnell (@LeaderMcConnell) September 27, 2021
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, 79, announced Monday via Twitter that he had also received a booster shot. As a polio survivor, McConnell said, “it was an easy decision to get a booster.”
Boom 💥 I got my geezer Covid booster shot today at CVS.
I have the Modena vaccine. CVS knew this. Okayed the booster. Set up your appointment online. Takes 15-minutes.
If I can do the tech side of this anyone can. Shot took 15-minutes max.
Thank you. Stay safe pic.twitter.com/N6LtNujeZ6— Jerry Saltz (@jerrysaltz) September 27, 2021
More than 2 million people have already received a booster shot, even though until Friday it was only recommended for those with immune system disorders, an indication that many Americans were not willing to wait for the CDC and the FDA’s green light to receive an additional dose.