Biden stated, "Today all across this country, we can confidently say: America is coming back together." He hosted over 1,000 service personnel, first responders, and other guests at a July Fourth celebration on South Lawn of White House.
It was Biden's long-awaited chance to celebrate the achievements of the vaccine campaign he fought for. This was his largest ever presidency event and the most clear indication that the U.S. has entered a new phase in its virus response. The nation moved from a national emergency into a localized crisis that was individual responsibility. It also shifted from vaccinating Americans towards promoting global health.
Before fireworks lit up the National Mall, the president declared, "This Fourth of July is a special day of celebration, because we're emerging out of the darkness of a Year of Pandemic and Isolation, a Year of Pain Fear and Heartbreaking Loss."
Biden noted the lockdowns that shut down businesses, separated families and put millions out-of-work, and said: "Today, we're closer than ever in declaring our independence against a deadly virus. However, that doesn't mean the fight against COVID-19 has ended. There's still a lot of work ahead.
After 16 months of suffering from the pandemic, Biden encouraged all Americans to also celebrate. The White House encouraged people to gather and display fireworks all over the country to celebrate the nation's independence from the virus.
There was plenty to be happy about: COVID-19 deaths and cases were at or close to record lows, thanks to the strong U.S. vaccine program. Restaurants and businesses were open, employment was increasing and travel was closer to pre-pandemic levels.
Biden's optimism, however, was not without reason. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the vaccination goal that Biden had set for July 4th -- 70% of adults vaccinated -- was not met at 67%. Officials were more concerned about the gap between highly vaccinated populations where the virus was slowly dying and those who were less vaccinated where it was spreading faster.
COVID-19 still causes more than 200 deaths per day in America, while tens of millions choose not to receive the lifesaving vaccines.
"If you have had the vaccine, you are doing great," Dr. Mati Hlatshwayo Davis (infectious disease physician at John Cochran VA Medical Center, St. Louis Board of Health) said. "If you don't have the vaccine, you should be concerned. There's no quick fix.
She said, "But that doesn’t take away the fact that this nation is in a significantly improved place."
However, there are still about 1,000 counties with a vaccination rate of less than 30%. The federal government warns that these areas could be the next epidemic as restrictions on virus spread ease.
The administration sent "surge" teams into Colorado and Missouri. Additional teams of public health professionals, infectious disease experts, doctors and nurses were preparing to help in other locations where there was a combination low vaccination rates and increasing cases.
The vastly improved American landscape was in sharp contrast to much of the rest, which still had vast vaccine deserts and large communities that could allow for even more dangerous variants. In an effort to help other countries beat the pandemic, the Biden administration was turning more of its federal response to the complex logistics of sending extra U.S. vaccines overseas.
As the U.S. demanded vaccines fell even though they were widely available for months and as government and business offered incentives to Americans to get shots, officials began emphasizing the fact that the outcomes of disease now largely reflect individual choices.
Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the CDC, stated that "the suffering and loss we are seeing now is almost entirely preventable."
Jen Psaki, White House Press Secretary, responded to questions about potential dangers of gatherings in areas with large numbers of unvaccinated people around July Fourth. She said that "if individuals get vaccinated within those areas, then they're protected."
According to White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator Jeff Zients, the South Lawn cookout and fireworks viewing were "being done in a right way" and in accordance with CDC guidelines. Although the White House did not require vaccinations, it asked guests to take a COVID-19 test to determine if they were fully vaccinated.
Davis stated that "for as much work there is still to do, it’s so important to celebrate those victories." "I'm okay with us having these moments of joy and celebration, as long as we continue to wake up the next morning and work to prioritize equity in vaccine distribution."
