Remarks as Prepared for Delivery by First Lady Jill Biden at a Visit to Jackson State University for COVID-19 Vaccination Efforts
Jackson, Mississippi
It’s hard to believe how far we’ve come from this point last year. Do you remember how quiet the streets were? Remember the empty grocery aisles? And just how uncertain and lonely so many of us felt?
We couldn’t know when it would end. It felt like it would take a miracle. But now, people tell me that they’re finally feeling hopeful again. Restaurants are reopening. Families are getting back to work. So many of our kids finished the school year in-person and are excited to start there in the fall. And I know all the parents here are silently yelling, “Thank God!” to that one. Right?
We’re getting back those things we lost for so long: hugging the people we love, catching up with friends face to face, smiling at strangers.
And it’s because so many people have chosen to get vaccinated.
Now, in a lot of ways, the vaccines feel like a miracle. They were rolled-out in record time and work better than we’d hoped.
Still, there’s misinformation out there – and people have a lot of questions. They’ve come up to me and asked: Is it safe? Was it created too fast? Was it tested enough?
As a teacher, as a mom and grandma, I wanted to be able to give the best answers I could. So, I asked some experts. And I was surprised to learn that, while these vaccines might be new, the technology behind them isn’t at all. Scientists have been studying similar viruses and working on this type of vaccine for decades now. So, when the pandemic started, they already had a blueprint ready to go.
The vaccines might feel like a miracle, but there’s no faith required.
They are the result of decades of rigorous scientific research and discoveries. And they’ve been held to the very same safety standard as every other vaccine.
Here in Mississippi, only 30% of eligible people have been fully vaccinated. That’s just not enough. And it’s why I wanted to visit. Because your health, your life, and your community, it matters to me – and it matters to the President.
So, I’m here today to ask you to get your shot. And as I do, I want you to know three things.
Number one: As I said, getting vaccinated is safe. It doesn’t even hurt. I promise, I barely felt mine. And I hate needles!
Number two: It’s effective. This is important for your health. Studies show that they offer almost perfect protection against death or hospitalization.
And remember, there are some people who can’t get vaccinated—like those with compromised immune systems. Your aunt in chemotherapy. Your neighbor with diabetes. Your friend at church with rheumatoid arthritis. They are counting on the rest of us to get protected so we don’t unknowingly spread it to them.
Number three: It’s easy and absolutely free.
Maybe with work and family, you don’t think you have time to get vaccinated. But most places don’t require appointments – you can just walk up and get your shot.
If you need a ride, Uber and Lyft are offering trips for free – there are even child care options. No matter where you live, there is a vaccination site close by. Just go to “Vaccines-dot-gov” to find one.
If you still have questions – that’s okay! Talk to your doctor. This is your choice – so get the information you need.
From barbeques to baseball games to boardwalks full of laughing children, summer is here and it has never felt more full of promise. The fresh air smells sweeter without our masks. The time with our loved ones feels more precious now that we know it could be lost. The bonds of our community feel stronger because we carried each other through the darkest times.
That’s what we do. It’s who we are: people who take care of our neighbors and friends. People who know that, together, there is no challenge we can’t face—no obstacle we can’t soar above.
Now, we must rise once more – each of us doing our part to protect ourselves and everyone around us.
Do your part. Choose to get your shot. And we’ll be able celebrate this summer the way it should be: safe and together.
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