CDC Director draws a blank when asked how the US will get to Biden's 70% vaccination goal

Twelve U.S. states have administered at least one coronavirus vaccine dose to 70 percent of their adult populations as officials attempt to ramp up the pace of shots.

Nine of the states – Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont – are in the Northeast with just three states, California, Hawaii and New Mexico, in the west.

Vermont and Hawaii currently lead the pack, giving an initial shot to 82.1 percent and 80.7 of residents, respectfully.

At least six states, Delaware, Illinois, Minnesota, New York, Virginia and Washington, as well as the District of Columbia are close to crossing the threshold and are expected to do so within the next week.  

President Joe Biden has set a goal of giving 70 percent of American adults getting at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose by July 4. However, this has proven difficult with the number of daily vaccinations falling, decreasing from an average of three million per day in April to less than 1.5 million per day currently.

When asked on Thursday how the administration planned to meet Biden’s goal, CDC director Dr Rochelle Walensky appeared to draw a blank and didn’t give any specifics.

Twelve U.S. states - California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont have administered at least one coronavirus vaccine dose to 70% of their adult populations

Twelve U.S. states – California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont have administered at least one coronavirus vaccine dose to 70% of their adult populations

President Joe Biden has set a goal of giving 70% of American adults at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose by July 4, but vaccinations have fallen from an average of three million per day in April to less than 1.5 million per day

President Joe Biden has set a goal of giving 70% of American adults at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose by July 4, but vaccinations have fallen from an average of three million per day in April to less than 1.5 million per day 

According to CDC data, 62.9 percent of all U.S. adults have received at least an initial dose of the inoculation and 51.9 percent are fully vaccinated.

However, this is still short of Biden’s goal of 70 percent and the administration has been trying to motivate more Americans to get vaccinated.

To get the nearly 15 million more Americans to roll up their sleeves, Biden announced incentives including free Anheuser-Busch beer for 200,000 people and even a visit to the White House.

Additionally, pharmacies that have teamed up with the White House will be open for 24 hours on Friday and centers will be offering free childcare for parents 

TODAY host Savannah Guthrie asked Walensky if the current pace of vaccinations is enough to hit the president’s target or if a push is need to increase the daily numbers.

The CDC director appeared to side-step the question, saying that she anticipates the incentives will ‘meet [people] where they are’ by providing people with more information and access to shots.

CDC director Dr Rochelle Walensky could not answer questions Thursday about how the U.S. would meet this threshold, instead replying that 'every shot in the arm is a win'

CDC director Dr Rochelle Walensky could not answer questions Thursday about how the U.S. would meet this threshold, instead replying that ‘every shot in the arm is a win’

‘I think that any singular day’s counts of how many vaccines we’re doing is not necessarily reflective. We’ve launched this push now. We anticipate we’ll be able to reach more and more people,’ she answered.

‘Every shot in every arm is a win because that person is now safe and protected from getting COVID-19.’ 

Guthrie also asked if the 70 percent benchmark is a goal for political purposes or if there is a public health threshold.

‘We know that the more and more people that get one vaccine and then two – get fully vaccinated – the more we as a nation are protected,’ Walensky said.

‘We know that the vaccine not only protects individuals, it protects communities, it protects their families. And so the more people who get vaccines…there is no magic target for herd immunity.’

On Sunday, the U.S. recorded 16,913 new infections, with a seven-day rolling average of 16,265, which is the lowest figure recorded since March 30

On Sunday, the U.S. recorded 16,913 new infections, with a seven-day rolling average of 16,265, which is the lowest figure recorded since March 30

A total of 610 coronavirus deaths were also reported on Wednesday, with a seven-day rolling average currently sits at about 553 deaths per day, which makes it two months since the average has been a four-digit figure

A total of 610 coronavirus deaths were also reported on Wednesday, with a seven-day rolling average currently sits at about 553 deaths per day, which makes it two months since the average has been a four-digit figure

It comes as coronavirus cases and deaths continue to plummet across the United States, reaching lows not seen in at least a year.

On Wednesday, the U.S. recorded 16,913 new infections, with a seven-day rolling average of 16,265, which is the lowest figure recorded since March 30, according to a DailyMail.com analysis of Johns Hopkins University data.  

The rate of new infections is currently 7.9 cases per 100,000, markedly lower from one month ago when cases averaged about 18 per 100,000 on April 23. 

A total of 610 coronavirus deaths were also reported on Wednesday, marking the sixth day in a row that fatalities have been below 1,000. 

The seven-day rolling average currently sits at about 553 deaths per day, which makes it two months since the average has been a four-digit figure.       

source: dailymail.co.uk