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04 August 2021 "Vaccinate America and help vaccinate the world". This is the appeal of US President Joe Biden. The White House says the United States has donated and shipped more than 110 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to more than 60 countries, from Afghanistan to Zambia. However, the 110 million doses, administered largely through a vaccine program known as COVAX, represent a fraction of what is needed globally. Speaking from the White House, Biden harshly criticized Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Texas Governor Greg Abbott, and other officials who have moved to block the re-imposition of masks to slow the delta variant of the virus.The strain is on the rise in their states and other parts of the country that have large numbers of unvaccinated people.
"If you're not going to help, at least don't get in the way of people trying to do the right thing," Biden said. Biden approved New York City's move to require vaccinations for indoor dining or going to the gym, as well as companies' initiative to require vaccines to get back to work, and said more locations and companies should follow suit.Such policies have been banned to varying degrees in at least seven GOP-led states.
An increase in infections in the United States, fueled by the highly contagious delta strain of the virus, led US public health officials last week to recommend that even people who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 resume wearing the face protection in some indoor public settings. After months of incentives for Americans to get vaccinated - including million-dollar lotteries and opportunities to earn free college tuition - the Biden administration is trying to make it harder for people to stay unvaccinated without impacting daily life. Biden announced that the United States has donated and shipped more than 110 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to more than 60 countries, from Afghanistan to Zambia.