President Biden on Tuesday warned the American people that nearly every COVID-related death this year will be because people have not received the updated vaccine. “Virtually every COVID death in America is preventable,” Biden said during an afternoon press conference, standing alongside pharmacy leaders from Walgreens, CVS, Rite Aid and Albertsons. “Virtually everyone, almost everyone who will die from COVID this year, will not be up-to-date on their shots.”
Biden also called on Congress to provide the billions of dollars the administration has requested to buy additional vaccines, tests and treatments. The president’s comments come ahead of the holiday season when the weather is colder and more people are spending time indoors and contagious viruses are more likely to spread. Biden pointed to new variants in the U.S. and a rise in hospitalizations in Europe and urged people to get the latest vaccine and the flu shot.
“If you get it, you’re protected. And if you don’t, you’re putting yourself and other people unnecessarily at risk,” Biden said, later adding, “Nearly every death is preventable, so get updated. Get your updated COVID shot. Now’s the time to do it, by Halloween if you can.” A study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) earlier this year found that more than 75% of COVID-19 deaths in fully vaccinated people had occurred among those with at least four comorbidities.