Biden Administration Reaches 200 Million COVID-19 Vaccine Goal Early

President Joe Biden set a goal of putting 200 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine into Americans’ arms in his administration’s first 100 days. He reached that goal by the end of the day Wednesday, the 92nd day of his presidency.

“Today, we did it, today we hit 200 million shots in the 92nd day in office,” the president said in a prepared statement. “This is an American achievement, a powerful demonstration of unity and resolve — what unity will do for us, and a reminder of what we can accomplish when we pull together, as one people, to a common goal.”

According to ABC News, Biden initially set the goal at 100 million doses, but when he reached that on day 58, he doubled it. The total does not include 13 million shots administered during the end of Trump’s presidency.

Biden also highlighted a paid leave tax credit for businesses to cover employees’ time off to receive a vaccine or recover from side effects on Wednesday. The credits are for small businesses — companies with less than 500 employees — and provide up to $500 per employee per day. The tax credit was included in Biden’s $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package.

“No working American should lose a single dollar from their paycheck because they chose to fulfill their patriotic duty of getting vaccinated,” President Biden said.