The United States passed a significant milestone on Friday towards the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, with more than 100 million people receiving at least one dose of vaccine, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
What do you need to know
- More than 100 million Americans have already received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, according to CDC data
- On Friday afternoon, 30.7% of the US population received at least one injection, while 17.5% were fully vaccinated
- The Biden government announced Friday that 20 million injections had been administered in the past seven days, an average of 2.9 million doses per day
- But the number of new coronavirus cases continues to rise, fueling fears that the country may be heading for a fourth wave
The figure early on Friday afternoon was 101.8 million, or 30.7% of the population. Almost 58 million are fully vaccinated – 17.5% of the population.
“It is really inspiring for me to see many Americans adopting vaccination,” said CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky. “We know that the massive increase in vaccination is the key to protecting the American people and bringing us closer and closer to our normal lives.”
Almost three-quarters of Americans aged 65 and over have received at least one injection, while 53.5% are fully vaccinated.
The Biden government announced on Friday that 20 million injections had been administered in the past seven days, an average of 2.9 million doses per day, a new record.
“This is an unprecedented pace,” said Jeff Zients, coordinator of the White House’s COVID-19. “No other country is vaccinating so many people so fast.”
President Joe Biden has set a target date for May 1 for states to open the vaccine’s eligibility to all adults. He announced earlier this week that the country is on its way to 90% of adults being eligible by April 19.
Meanwhile, as states relax more security measures and variants spread, the number of new coronavirus cases continues to rise, fueling fears that the country may be heading for a fourth wave.
According to CDC data, there were almost 75,000 new infections on Thursday, the highest number recorded since February 24. The seven-day average for new cases is 63,727, almost 11,000 more than two weeks ago.
Another nine hundred and seven people died of the virus on Thursday, bringing the death toll in the U.S. to more than 550,000, according to CDC figures.
In a speech on Friday, Biden pleaded with Americans not to treat the pandemic as if it were over.
“I beg you. Do not repay the progress that we have all struggled to achieve, ”he said. “We need to finish this job. We need all Americans to try and keep their guard high in this final stretch. Wear your mask, keep a safe distance from each other, wash your hands, get vaccinated when your turn comes. This is how we are going to beat the virus, get rid of the burden of the pandemic that is holding our economy. “