Biden to receive 2nd Covid vaccine booster

President Joe Biden will receive his second Covid-19 booster shot, the White House announced Wednesday.

The president’s decision comes one day after the FDA authorized a second booster of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines for adults 50 years and older. Later the same day, the CDC recommended all adults age 50 and older receive an additional vaccine dose.

Biden, 79, received the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine in December 2020 and the second in January 2021, both on live television. The president received the Pfizer booster in September 2021 and will get his second booster shot on Wednesday after delivering remarks on his administration's ongoing efforts to combat the pandemic.

“I’m doing this to demonstrate that people should be prepared when it’s available to take the vaccine,” Biden said while receiving his first dose. “There’s nothing to worry about.”

The White House has dealt with a series of Covid scares in recent weeks. Second gentleman Doug Emhoff tested positive in mid-March, as did Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin, whose positive test came during a St. Patrick's Day visit to Washington. White House press secretary Jen Psaki tested positive last week, and deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre is currently isolating after to a positive test.

On Tuesday, White House communications director Kate Bedingfield said the president would receive a fourth dose “if his doctor recommends” it, emphasizing the decision would come “in consultation with his doctor.”