US hits milestone of 200 million vaccine doses within the first 100 days of Biden
President Joe Biden announced a new tax credit Wednesday to reimburse small businesses that give workers paid time off to get vaccinated against COVID-19 as he touted reaching his goal of 200 million shots administered in his first 100 days.
The tax credit, which will be funded by the Covid-19 relief bill passed last month, will be available to businesses with fewer than 500 employees, allowing up to $511 a day for each employee. Biden called on all companies, regardless of size, to offer paid time off, and offer other incentives, such as gift cards or bonuses, to encourage employees to get vaccinated.
This move tied with making those 16 and older eligible for the vaccine will give a boost to vaccination rates, according to the president. There is still the uphill battle of getting hesitant Americans comfortable with the vaccine. But the White House said new polling shows confidence is growing.
While the United States leads the world in reported Covid-19 deaths, it has also raced ahead in the vaccination stakes, outperforming some major European countries and neighboring Canada.
