Biden Urges Eligible Americans to Get COVID Boosters

President Joe Biden on Friday urged eligible Americans to get COVID-19 vaccine booster shots and pleaded once again with the unvaccinated to get their shots.

The president's message comes a day after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced its approval of vaccine booster shots for some individuals who received the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at least six months ago.

The CDC approved the boosters for those 65 or older as well as frontline workers such as teachers, health care workers and others, whose jobs place them at risk of contracting COVID, and others ages 50 to 64, with underlying conditions.

In comments from the White House, Biden said the approval means some 60 million Americans are eligible for boosters after six months have passed since their last Pfizer shot. He said just like initial vaccinations, boosters would be free and easily available, and he would be getting his booster as soon as possible.

The president said the millions of Americans who received the Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccines are still protected from serious illness and said the nation's top doctors and scientists are reviewing the data from those vaccines regarding if and when they may need a booster.

Biden also once again urged the 70 million unvaccinated Americans to get vaccinated. He said unvaccinated people are hurting the U.S. health care system by overcrowding hospitals and intensive care units, preventing others from receiving treatment for other ailments. He also said they are slowing economic recovery by slowing growth.

The president singled out elected officials who are actively working to undermine the fight against the pandemic by spreading false information. He called this "totally unacceptable."

The president called on those who want to get vaccinated but have questions to seek out people they trust and others who have been vaccinated to get accurate information.

VOA NEWS