WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Joe Biden will order states to make all adults eligible for COVID-19 vaccines by May 1 and use his first primetime address to say he expects life by the holiday of July 4 will return to normal, according to two senior White House officials.
In a speech on Thursday evening to mark the anniversary of the coronavirus lockdown, Biden will offer both hope and warnings, officials said.
Families and friends can gather for barbecues to celebrate the 4th of July holiday on Independence Day, but only if they continue to adhere to health guidelines and take advantage of a growing vaccine offering.
The president will talk about small gatherings like a barbecue in your backyard near you. He will be clear that it is not about big events where many people gather, but it does mean that we can have another Independence Day, small gatherings and celebrations. And that’s a big step in the right direction, ”said a senior assistant.
Biden will order states to drop current vaccine eligibility rules that prioritize different groups, underscoring the government’s confidence that there will be enough vaccine for everyone.
Reporting by Jarrett Renshaw and Jeff Mason; Editing by Leslie Adler and Peter Cooney