The White House commemorated the United States hitting 50 million doses of coronavirus vaccinations administered since President Joe Biden took office 36 days ago, well ahead of the pace of one million vaccinations per day Biden promised when he took office.

Two firefighters, a supermarket worker, a school counselor and a nurse received their inoculations as President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris looked on.  Besides celebrating the milestone, Biden noted that “the worst thing we could do not is let our guard down,” as new coronavirus variants start to spread around the nation.

Biden noted that 60% of people over the age of 75 have received at least one dose, and 75% of people who live in long-term care facilities have received at least one dose.  Prior to Biden’s inauguration, just six million Americans had been vaccinated, and the prior administration, which had no plan to vaccinate the American people, had left no supplies of vaccines available.

Biden touted the administration’s efforts to set up mass vaccination sites around the country.  He also noted that his Administration is funding local mobile clinics and vans to get vaccines and vaccinators to areas that are underserved by the medical community or where people cannot easily get to clinics.

To overcome efforts by anti-vaxxers, Biden said the administration will undertake a communications and outreach program to urge vaccine skeptics and coronavirus deniers, including those whose communities are hesitant to get a government vaccine because of past medical abuses..

“While things are improving and we’re going from the mess we inherited to a solution,” Biden said, “we still have a long way to go.”  Biden repeatedly mentioned the steps individuals can take to protect themselves and their families:  Wash your hands, stay social distanced, get your vaccine and wear your mask.

Biden also mentioned that five national cancer research centers have joined the administration’s “cancer moonshot” to find a cure for cancer.