Events within and beyond Joe Biden’s control stymied progress on COVID-19 in his first year

Eleven months ago, President Joe Biden assumed office during one of the most critical moments of the COVID-19 pandemic. Case counts and death rates were shockingly high. The vaccine rollout, which had started under former President Donald Trump, was disjointed. People were generally sequestered in their homes, and kids were relegated to remote learning.

Biden promised to change all that. He said he would differ from Trump in that he would listen to the scientists, encourage the use of masks and give the federal government a stronger role in addressing the pandemic. He also pledged to deliver the "most efficient mass vaccination plan in U.S. history" and to get 100 million COVID-19 shots administered in his first 100 days.

How well did Biden do? We asked four public health experts who said the president’s vaccine rollout, overall, was excellent, but his messaging was off at certain points. Other setbacks — both within and beyond his control — stymied progress against COVID-19.