Starting with "I would always give it to you straight," President Joe Biden gave a report to the American People on the latest news regarding the Omicron Variant of the Coronavirus and the steps the Biden/Harris Administration was taking to address the latest surges. The President also discussed Build Back Better and Joe Manchin.
Recognizing that people are frustrated with the almost two year pandemic, Mr. Biden stressed "we have power of science and vaccines" to meet the coming challenges.
However, while the President continually reaffirmed that those Americans that are vaccinated (especially those that have received boosters) have little risk of falling seriously ill to the latest variant, he had a different message for those 50 million Americans who have not obtained their free first dose of the vaccination: "If you are not fully vaccinated, you have reason to be concerned for hospitalization and death."
Mr. Biden reminded everyone that most of the deaths from COVID 19 are from the unvaccinated.
He called on the unvaccinated's thinking about their family, neighbors, and "patriotic duty" to get vaccinated. He also told the unvaccinated that "you are putting others at risk and your choice can be the difference between life and death and cause hospitals to be overrun." He also said people with other illnesses could be harmed because they cannot get care because unvaccinated COVID 19 patients are taking up precious hospital bed space.
Later the President emphasized that "vaccination requirements are in place not to run your life but save your lives."
Mr. Biden also took a swipe at those anti science-anti vaxer pundits on cable news and social media that are discouraging people from getting vaccinated.
He also asked those that have received their first two dosages of the vaccine to make an appointment to receive a booster shot. He also reminded everyone that these injections are free.
The President also called on parents to make sure their five to eleven year olds receive their vaccinations. For those children that are younger, he strongly recommended that parents receive all their shots and wear masks.
This is not March, 2020
Mr. Biden told the American People that "they should be concerned but not panicked, especially if you are vaccinated."
Why?
Because this is not like the beginning stages of the Coronavirus in March, 2020.
Why?
- "200 million have been fully vaccinated. They are mostly protected from hospitalization and death.
- We are prepared with supplies like masks.
- We know more and have more resources like keeping schools open with more testing and vaccines for age 5 to 11"
Steps the Biden/Harris Administration is Taking to meet the Omicron Challenge.
In order to meet the challenges of this winter surge, President Biden, while saying "we have your backs," announced:
- "We have added 10000 new Vaccination sites.
- 100's more vaccinators in more sites to increase number of boosters through FEMA.
- Starting next month (January, 2022,) private insurance will cover at home testing.
- Federal government will set up additional testing sites in areas with the most need.
- Federal government will purchase half a billion at home tests for people for free.
- We are preparing hospitals for the 40 percent of unvaccinated like more gloves and beds.
- 1000 troops to help staff hospitals in need (doctors, nurses, and medics.)
- FEMA will deploy ambulances to help transport patients."
Please click here to see the White House fact sheet on these developments for more detail.
Mr. Biden also maintained that K through 12 schools should remain open "if teachers are all vaccinated and everyone wears masks."
The President concluded his comments by calling for unity saying "we will win if we stay united" and "I know you are tired and frustrated. We're ready and we'll get through this."
The President also talked about Joe Manchin and Build Back Better
During a brief question and answer session with the White House Press Corp, the President was asked twice if West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin had broken his word to him, Mr. Biden made several comments (some very animated) including:
"Some people think maybe I'm not Irish because I don't hold a grudge. Look I want to get things done. I still think there's a possibility of getting Build Back Better done...Let me say something...What happened? Goldman Sachs said if we don't pass Build Back Better, we're in trouble because it's going to grow the economy."
On the dangers of inflation, how it hurts working class Americans, and how Build Back Better helps them:
"You should be worried about (inflation) because it's a devastating thing for people who are working class and middle class folks. It really hurts. Where is most of the costs now? The cost is finding in gasoline even though I was able to bring it down 12 cents a gallon... We talked about the cost of food prices...But look what's in Build Back Better. Child Care. You can reduce it by up to 70 percent...We're talking about health care. Insulin and essentially, we got 200,000 kids with type one diabetes. You know what it's causing it cost somewhere between ten cents and ten dollars to come up with a formula...You know what it's costing on average? $560, $640 a month. Up to a thousand dollars a month. (The President becomes animated here) What do you do if you're a mom and a dad working with minimum wage busting your neck. You look at your kid and you know if you don't get that...drug from him, if you don't get that that that be able to take that; what happens? You're likely to go into a coma and maybe die. Not only do you put the kids life at stake (Biden starts to yell,) you strip away all the dignity of a parent looking at their child. I'm not joking about this. Imagine being a parent looking at a child you can't afford. You have no house to borrow against. You have no savings. It's wrong. But all the things in that bill are going to reduce prices and costs for middle class and working class people...It'll bring down all those costs across the board from child care to a child care tax credit..."
The President concluded his remarks to the press by stating:
"Senator Manchin and I are going to get something done. Thank you."
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