Biden praises vaccines for kids under five.
QUICK FACTS:
- President Joe Biden said Tuesday that the United States needs to take steps to get ready for the next pandemic.
- Biden’s comments to the media came at the same time he praised the efforts that went into getting approval for COVID-19 vaccinations for kids under the age of 5.
- “This is a very historic milestone, a monumental step forward,” Biden said during his speech updating the public on pandemic-related issues.
- Biden then assured the public that there would be another pandemic during the portion of his speech that has since gone viral. “We need more money to plan for the second pandemic. There’s going to be another pandemic,” he said.
BIDEN SAYS “WE NEED MORE MONEY”:
- “The United States is now the first country in the world to offer safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines for children as young as six months old,” Biden said during his address. “In the first time in our fight against this pandemic, nearly every American can now have access to lifesaving vaccines. And we’re ready.”
- When asked how many vaccines for small children were available, the president responded saying, “Well, we’ll get through at least this year. We do need more money. But we don’t just need more money for vaccines for children, eventually; we need more money to plan for the second pandemic.”
BACKGROUND:
- This news comes as Congress faces a $10 billion COVID funding request from the Biden administration.
- The FDA announced earlier this week that COVID vaccines were available for kids 5 and under, prompting Biden to remind lawmakers that they were looking for more funds going into the fall.
