Remarks by Vice President Harris in a Virtual Meeting to Discuss COVID-⁠19 Public Education Efforts
APRIL 01, 2021
Location: Eisenhower Executive Office Building

9:26 A.M. EDT

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Thank you, Mr. Surgeon General Murthy.  And I just — in front of all of the friends who are here, I just have to tell you he has been tireless for months and months, working on this issue.  And so in front of everyone, I want to thank you, Vivek, for all you have been doing to lift us up as a nation and to also lift up the importance of following the science and the fact that we are in this together, and so lifting up the power and significance of the collective. 

And so, to everyone: Thank you.  Good morning.  I know it’s very early for all of the friends on the West Coast.  And to all of you, thank you for joining for this first meeting, this inaugural meeting of our Community Corps. 

And we are truly very excited about the participation and the collaboration and the coalition-building potential of this group of leaders.  And I’ll tell you, when we look at the number of vaccines that are being administered each week, they are increasing, and that gives us a sense of optimism.  We are breaking records all of the time.  Our goal of 100 million shots in 100 days is now 200 million shots in 100 days.  And by April 19th, 9 in 10 adults in the United States will be eligible to sign up for a shot. 

And we want — and the President feels very strongly about this — we want every adult in the United States to sign up and get vaccinated when they can and when it’s their turn, because that’s what will make us strong, and that’s what will make us healthy and get us through this pandemic. 

And so this is what we’re here to discuss.  And again, thank you all for taking the call to be part of this.

Around this virtual table, we have some of the most trusted leaders in the United States.  I’ve got a big screen here where I can see everyone.  I hope you all can see each other.  We can just — let’s wave.  (Laughs.)  What a collection.

We have community leaders, we have faith leaders, we have union leaders, we have business leaders.  Leaders, leaders, leaders.  And we know that the people of our country look to leaders like you, and they have been looking to you.  They have been looking in your eyes, searching to believe that there should be a reason to have hope.  They have been looking in your eyes and looking to you to give them some confidence that we can get through this and give them a sense of knowing that they are not alone.

This is what you all have been doing over the course of this last year.  And you, of course, are leaders that are leaders in your communities.  You are the people that folks on the ground know and rely on and have a history with.  And when people are then making the decision to get vaccinated, they’re going to look to you.  They’re going to look to you to help answer the questions that they may have that may include “What’s in the vaccine?” and may also include “How do I sign up? How do I get there?” — the transportation piece. 

And so that’s why today, as part of our broader public education campaign, we are launching our COVID-19 Community Corps.  And so everyone, as the Surgeon General has said, everyone gathered here is a founding member.  And I thank you on behalf of myself and President Biden for stepping up. 

This is a really important moment, and we have a great opportunity at this moment.  And as we all know, each day is not equal.  We are at a phase where, with the increasing number of supply of vaccinations, we are at a phase at this moment where we can actually get a hold of this thing and advance where we want to be as a country in terms of protecting our neighbors.

And so, as members, you will have access to the latest information and a host of resources that you can then share with those you serve.  And we will work with you to get creative, and we want your ideas about how we can be most creative to be most effective.