Unlikely to meet his July 4 vaccination goal, Biden will focus on a different milestone.

By Sheryl Gay Stolberg and Amy Schoenfeld Walker

With the United States unlikely to reach President Biden’s self-imposed deadline of having 70 percent of American adults partly vaccinated against the coronavirus by July 4, he plans on Friday to trumpet a different milestone: 300 million shots in his first 150 days in office.

Mr. Biden will speak about the vaccination drive as his administration makes a last push to reach the July 4 goal. Vice President Kamala Harris and Health Secretary Xavier Becerra were both on the road Friday, trying to drum up enthusiasm about the vaccine. Ms. Harris was in Atlanta and Mr. Becerra was headed to Colorado.

Mr. Biden took office warning of a “dark winter” ahead, as deaths were near peak levels and vaccinations were barely underway, and he is clearly trying to portray the virus as in retreat as he nears six months in office. A fact sheet distributed by the White House in advance of Friday’s remarks noted that 15 states and Washington, D.C., have gotten at least 70 percent of adults one shot. A White House official said Mr. Biden would point to the 300 million milestone as evidence of his administration’s success.

“The results are clear: America is starting to look like America again, and entering a summer of joy and freedom,” the document proclaimed.

When Mr. Biden set the July 4 goal in early May, he said meeting it would demonstrate that the United States had taken “a serious step toward a return to normal,” and for many people that already seems to be the case. This week, California and New York lifted virtually all of their pandemic restrictions on business and social distancing.

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