Biden Offers To Help Woman Get COVID Vaccine For Immunocompromised Son

Urging Americans to get COVID-19 vaccines when they can, President Joe Biden offered to personally help a Wisconsin woman who was concerned about getting the shot for her immunocompromised son.

During a CNN Town Hall with the President on Tuesday, Kerri Engebrecht said her 19-year-old was diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at the age of 14 and has the lung functioning of a 60-year-old.

“He does all he can to protect himself. Last month, he even removed himself from the campus of UW Madison, as he feels it's safer, and he has less exposure here at home. We've tried all we can to get him a vaccine. I hear of others who are less vulnerable, getting it based on far less.”

Engebrecht asked if Biden had a plan to vaccinate those who are most vulnerable sooner.

The President explained that states make the decisions about the order in which people receive COVID-19 shots. He said he can make recommendations, but he can’t tell the states to prioritize a certain group for the vaccines.

“If you're willing, I'll stay around after this is over and maybe we can talk a few minutes and see if I can get you some help," he added.

The coronavirus vaccine rollout began in the U.S. in December last year and data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that more than 55 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in the country.

The U.S. has approved two vaccines, from Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech.

Biden aims to administer at least 100 million COVID vaccine doses during his first 100 days in office. He said the country will have around 600 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines by the end of July, enough for all Americans. He also advised Americans on Tuesday to get any coronavirus vaccine they can, whenever they can.

The President said new variants may eventually reduce the efficacy of vaccines against coronavirus so people should not wait and see. “If you can get a vaccination, get it whenever you can get it, regardless of the other strains that are out there.”

“It may be that a certain vaccination for a certain strain may reduce from 95% to a lower percentage of certainty that it will keep you from getting it,” CNN quoted Biden as saying. He added that it will still be effecrive.