The U.S. is ready to rapidly deploy new vaccines in the event of another Covid variant, according to President Joe Biden.
I can't promise a new variant won't come, but I can promise you we'll be ready if it does.
In December and January, the omicron variant caused an unprecedented surge of infections that pushed many hospitals across the country to the brink. Pfizer and Moderna are working on vaccines.
Biden said the US has reached a new moment in the Pandemic, with severe cases of Covid declining to a level not seen since July. According to the president, most Americans can now go about their lives without a mask. More of the country will meet CDC guidelines for safely abandoning masks in the next two weeks, according to Biden.
The president wanted to assure Americans that they can return to work safely. Biden said that most federal employees will work in person again.
Most Americans can return to work, stay in the classroom, and move forward safely, with 75% of adults fully vaccined, the president said.
Biden said that people who are positive for Covid will be able to get the pills on the spot for free. A White House official said that the administration will launch hundreds of sites this month, including community health centers. The president said Americans can order more free Covid tests at covidtests.gov.
Biden sought to assure parents that scientists are working diligently to approve the vaccine for their children. He said the U.S. will have enough vaccine ready when the authorization comes through. Only children under the age of 5 are not eligible for the vaccine.
The FDA wanted to approve the first two doses of Pfizer and BioNTech's vaccine for children six months to four years old last month. The data didn't meet expectations so the FDA delayed those plans. Pfizer's third dose is expected in April.
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