By Lauren Egan -
NBC News
President Joe Biden received a COVID-19 booster dose from Pfizer-BioNTech at the White House on Monday, just days after it was recommended by health authorities for high-risk groups for the virus.
In a short speech before receiving his third injection, the president said that "reinforcements are important, but
the most important thing we have to do is get more people to get vaccinated
."
The 23% of Americans who have not had a single vaccine "are doing great harm to the rest of the country," Biden said.
Biden, 78, received his second dose of the Pfizer vaccine in January.
The new guidance says that someone in the president's age range should receive the booster six months after the second injection.
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President Joe Biden receives a booster shot of COVID-19 during an event at the South Court Auditorium on the White House campus, Monday, Sept. 27, 2021, in Washington. Evan Vucci / AP
"I know it doesn't look like it, but I'm over 65," Biden said.
"And that's why I'm going to get my reinforcement today," he added.
Jill Biden, 70, will also receive an additional injection, the president said.
Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approved a third injection of the Pfizer vaccine for people 65 and older and residents on Friday. in nursing homes for the elderly, as well as for people ages 50 to 64 who have an underlying health condition.
Walensky also surprised some by expanding approval to include essential workers, such as teachers and grocery store clerks, going beyond the recommendations of a CDC advisory panel.
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The decision was the latest step in a highly unusual process, which began in August when Biden Administration officials announced a plan to begin giving additional doses this week.
The announcement was made before renowned scientists from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the CDC had reviewed the clinical trial data submitted by the drugmaker.
But officials said data from studies in Israel and the UK showed worrying signs that the vaccine's protection declined over time, especially for the elderly, and that quick action was needed.
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Biden has said that ultimately, his administration plans to offer reinforcement to everyone living in the United States.
He has also said that scientists are working to review data on Moderna and Johnson & Johnson booster vaccines.
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More than two million people have already received the extra dose, despite the fact that as of Friday it was only recommended for those with immune system disorders, an indication that many people were unwilling to wait for the green light from the CDC and the FDA.
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Biden said he will travel to Chicago on Wednesday to highlight the importance of companies setting vaccination requirements for their employees.
