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NEW: BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION LAUNCHES NATIONWIDE EFFORT TO ENSURE AMERICA’S YOUNGEST CHILDREN HAVE ACCESS TO COVID-19 VACCINES

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 18, 2022
PRESS CONTACT: [email protected]

NEW: BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION LAUNCHES NATIONWIDE EFFORT TO ENSURE AMERICA’S YOUNGEST CHILDREN HAVE ACCESS TO COVID-19 VACCINES

ABC News: “CDC gives the go-ahead for Pfizer and Moderna COVID vaccines for kids as young as 6 months”

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today marks a significant milestone in our recovery from the pandemic: with the announcement that kids six months to five years old can get their shot, vaccines are now available for everyone over 6 months old in America. This historic achievement is a testament to President Biden’s leadership and his commitment to ensuring everyone – from the elderly to young kids – have access to safe, reliable vaccines.

President Biden pledged that his administration will devote significant resources to ensure resources are readily available for parents to get their kids protected. This will help keep millions of kids safe and healthy – and it marks yet another crucial milestone in America’s historic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic under President Biden’s leadership.

“When President Biden took office, our country was facing a crisis unlike anything we’ve seen before. The president took decisive action, and through policies like his American Rescue Plan, got shots in arms, kids back in school, and Americans back to work, and helped deliver the most significant economic recovery in our nation’s history,” said Building Back Together Executive Director Danielle Melfi. “Now, the Biden-Harris Administration is taking another major step in the fight against COVID-19 that will give peace of mind to millions of parents and families. While Republicans in Congress unanimously opposed the American Rescue Plan and made the pandemic worse by ignoring the science and attacking public health officials, thanks to President Biden, we have the tools we need to keep ourselves safe and a common sense approach to moving forward safely without more restrictions or lockdowns.”

The Biden-Harris Administration has a plan to ensure vaccines are readily available to our youngest kids:

  • The Administration has made 10 million vaccine doses available for states, Tribes, territories, community health centers, federal pharmacy partners, and others to pre-order, and will deliver those doses now that the FDA has approved the vaccines.
  • 85% of children under five live within five miles of a vaccination site.
  • The administration continues to work with trusted messengers, including pediatricians, to ensure that all families have answers to their questions and know about the importance of getting their children vaccinated.


These actions build off the unprecedented vaccination campaign the Biden-Harris Administration has already implemented: 

  • 76 percent of adults are vaccinated, including 91 percent of seniors as well as over 23 million kids.
    • Today’s announcement expands eligibility to include children between six months and five years old.
  • The American Rescue Plan included key funding to improve outreach and education about getting vaccinated in communities of color:
    • $10 billion to increase access to and build confidence in COVID-19 vaccines in the hardest-hit and high-risk communities.
    • $785 million to support COVID-19 response and recovery efforts in the hardest-hit and high-risk communities.


President Biden’s American Rescue Plan not only got shots in arms, but put money into the pockets of parents and workers, got kids back in school, and cut taxes for working and middle class families: 

  • 171 million stimulus checks of up to $1,400 were delivered to Americans.
  • The Biden-Harris Administration expanded the Earned Income Tax Credit to include more workers and provided nearly three times the previous benefit amount, assisting over 17 million workers.
  • The American Rescue Plan provided essential support to small businesses, including $28.6 billion delivered to over 100,000 businesses throughout the country through the Restaurant Revitalization Fund to help restaurants hit hard by the pandemic.
  • The administration ensured schools safely re-opened, providing over $122 billion in American Rescue Plan funding to reopen K-12 schools, address learning loss, and support student mental health – all with a focus on equity..
  • President Biden’s American Rescue Plan helped Americans stay in their homes by providing emergency aid to cover back rent, including $21.6 billion in emergency aid for low income renters.
    • The American Rescue Plan also provided $10 billion in aid for struggling homeowners to pay their mortgage and $4.5 billion to help homeowners and renters pay utility costs.

Today’s announcement is a crucial step in our recovery as President Biden continues to fight to ensure all have access to the vaccines and resources they need to keep themselves and their loved ones safe.

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