Biden Receives Second Booster Shot, Calls for Additional COVID-19 Funding

President Joe Biden received a second booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine on camera on Wednesday after calling upon Congress to approve additional COVID-19 funds. 

Biden said that without additional funding, his administration would not be able to ensure additional booster shots “are available, free, easily accessible for all Americans,” adding, “This isn't partisan, it's medicine.” Biden also warned that low funds threatened government supplies of monoclonal antibodies and other treatments. The White House previously asked for $22.5 billion in COVID-19 funds, but congressional Republicans insisted that the funds come from cuts to other programs, not deficit spending; Democrats attempted to pass $15 billion for pandemic aid in early March, but struck the proposal from an omnibus spending bill due to disagreements over the cut programs. Along with getting a booster shot, Biden also announced a new informational site: COVID.gov.

While coverage of Biden’s booster shot itself was mostly balanced, coverage of the COVID-19 funding debate often reflected partisan leanings. Some coverage in right-rated outlets said purported spending excesses, like vaccines for migrants in DHS custody, were the cause of low pandemic funding.