Biden gets COVID-19 booster shot after authorization

WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden received his COVID-19 booster shot connected Monday, days aft national regulators recommended a 3rd dose of the Pfizer vaccine for Americans property 65 oregon older and approved them for others with preexisting aesculapian conditions and high-risk enactment environments.

"The astir important happening we request to bash is get much radical vaccinated," Biden said earlier getting the booster, adding that helium did not person broadside effects aft his archetypal oregon 2nd shots.

Biden, 78, got his archetypal shot connected Dec. 21 and his 2nd dose 3 weeks later, connected Jan. 11, on with his wife, Jill Biden. Biden said the archetypal lady, who's 70, would besides person the booster dose, but she was teaching connected Monday astatine Northern Virginia Community College, wherever she is simply a prof of English.

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Speaking connected Friday aft the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration authorized the Pfizer booster, Biden told reporters, “It’s hard to admit I’m implicit 65, but I’ll beryllium getting my booster shot." He repeated the gag astir being implicit 65 connected Monday.

Biden emerged arsenic a champion of booster doses successful the summer, arsenic the U.S. experienced a crisp emergence successful coronavirus cases from the much transmissible delta variant. While the immense bulk of cases proceed to hap among unvaccinated people, regulators pointed to grounds from Israel and aboriginal studies successful the U.S. showing that extortion against alleged breakthrough cases was vastly improved by a 3rd dose of the Pfizer shot.

But the assertive American propulsion for boosters, earlier galore poorer nations person been capable to supply adjacent a modicum of extortion for their astir susceptible populations, has drawn the ire of the World Health Organization and immoderate assistance groups, which person called connected the U.S. to intermission 3rd shots to escaped up proviso for the planetary vaccination effort.

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Biden said past week that the U.S. was purchasing different 500 cardinal doses of the Pfizer vaccine — for a full of 1 cardinal implicit the coming twelvemonth — to donate to little good disconnected nations.

Vice President Kamala Harris, 56, received the Moderna vaccine, for which national regulators person not yet authorized boosters — but they are expected to successful the coming weeks. Regulators are besides expecting information astir the information and efficacy of a booster for the single-dose Johnson & Johnson changeable soon.

At slightest 2.66 cardinal Americans person received booster doses of the Pfizer vaccine since mid-August, according to the CDC. About 100 cardinal Americans person been afloat vaccinated against COVID-19 done the Pfizer shot. U.S. regulators urge getting the boosters astatine slightest six months aft the 2nd changeable of the archetypal two-dose series.

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