Biden on vaccinations: 'Today we hit 200 million shots'

WASHINGTON

President Joe Biden said Wednesday that the US will achieve its goal of administering 200 million coronavirus vaccine doses in his first 100 days in office.

"When tomorrow’s vaccine and vaccination numbers come out, it will show that today we did it. Today we hit 200 million shots," Biden said at the White House. "It's an incredible achievement for the nation.”

He also said his administration achieved administering 100 million vaccine shots on his 58th day in office -- his number one goal to fight the coronavirus in the US.

Nearly 32 million people have been infected with the virus in the US and 568,000 others have died, according to Johns Hopkins University.

The president said the US is entering a new phase in its vaccination efforts. As of Monday, with the support of 50 state governors, everyone older than 16 will be eligible to get vaccinated.

"The first three months of our vaccination program focused on targeting vaccines to specific high-risk groups. Now, our objective is to reach everyone, everyone over the age of 16 in America, wherever you live, wherever your circumstances," said Biden.

He also urged large and small business employers in every state to give employees time off needed, with pay, to get vaccinated.

As of Wednesday, the US has administered nearly 216 million doses of vaccines, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.