Jill Biden, Douglas Emhoff to tout COVID vaccines during Phoenix trip
Jun 28, 2021, 9:38 AM | Updated: 10:59 am
U.S. second gentleman Doug Emhoff (L) and U.S. first lady Dr. Jill Biden (R) arrive before a speech by President Joe Biden to a joint session of Congress in the House chamber of the U.S. Capitol April 28, 2021, in Washington, DC. The spouses of the nation’s two top elected officials are coming to Phoenix on June 30, 2021, to promote COVID-19 vaccinations. (Photo by Jim Watson - POOL/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jim Watson - POOL/Getty Images)
PHOENIX – The spouses of the nation’s two top elected officials are coming to Phoenix this week as part of the Biden administration’s nationwide tour to encourage COVID-19 vaccinations.
Jill Biden and second gentleman Douglas Emhoff will visit a vaccine clinic at Isaac Middle School along with Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego on Wednesday, the first lady’s office said.
The trip is part of a two-day swing to large cities in Southwest states, with stops in the Dallas area and Houston set for the previous day.
Jill Biden was last in Arizona in April for a two-day visit to the Navajo Nation capital of Window Rock, which also included a vaccination clinic.
This week’s visit comes after the White House acknowledged last week it won’t reach the goal of getting 70% of American adults vaccinated by July 4.
When the 70% goal was first announced by Biden seven weeks ago, on average more than 800,000 Americans were getting their first vaccine dose each day — down from a high of nearly 2 million per day in early April. Now that figure is below 300,000.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
