President Joe Biden has sent a very clear message to American citizens who are yet to have the Covid-19 vaccination: "Our patience is wearing thin."
Speaking from the Briefing Room in the White House on Thursday (September 9), Biden spoke about the importance of raising the vaccination rate across the US.
"If we raise our vaccination rate, protect ourselves and others with masking and expanded testing, and identify people who are infected, we can and we will turn the tide on Covid-19," the POTUS said.
Biden, 78, then delivered his message to US citizens who are yet to receive the vaccine, telling them:
"And my message to unvaccinated Americans is this: What more is there to wait for? What more do you need to see? We’ve made vaccinations free, safe, and convenient.
"The vaccine has FDA approval. Over 200 million Americans have gotten at least one shot.
"We’ve been patient, but our patience is wearing thin. And your refusal has cost all of us. So, please, do the right thing. But just don’t take it from me; listen to the voices of unvaccinated Americans who are lying in hospital beds, taking their final breaths, saying, “If only I had gotten vaccinated.' 'If only.'
"It’s a tragedy. Please don’t let it become yours."
Pfizer and BioNTech's Covid-19 vaccine was granted FDA approval back on August 23. The United States Food and Drug Administration's Acting Commissioner Janet Woodcock said that she would hope the approval would "instill additional confidence to get vaccinated".
Woodcock added that the "milestone" would help bring the United States " one step closer to altering the course of this pandemic."
The FDA approval means that the Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine has been deemed safe for Americans as young as 16.
In a statement to ABC News, Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said: "Based on the longer-term follow-up data that we submitted, today’s approval for those aged 16 and over affirms the efficacy and safety profile of our vaccine at a time when it is urgently needed."
In his address, the President revealed that The Department of Labor will allow employers with 100 or more members of staff to claim compensation in order to allow workers to take time off to receive the vaccine.
"No one should lose pay in order to get vaccinated or take a loved one to get vaccinated," Biden said.
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