Jill Biden works with NFL to promote vaccinations

DALLAS – Jill Biden played offensively in the fight against COVID-19 on Tuesday, teaming up with a declining NFL Hall of Fame and America’s second gentleman to encourage Texans to get vaccinated against the disease.

The first lady and husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, Doug Emhoff, met in Houston at an Astros-sponsored vaccination event as part of a month-long Major League Baseball effort that included incentives such as tickets to future games and a replica World Series ring.

“It’s safe. It’s effective. It’s free,” said the first lady, who has toured the country to increase the country’s vaccination rate. On Emhoff’s side, she said, “We want to encourage everyone here in Texas to to get the vaccine. “

Emhoff, who has also visited vaccination centers across the country, said the vaccines are working.

“Save yourself. Save others. It’s the right thing,” he said at the event at Union Station in Houston. The pair later sat down for several innings of the team’s matchup at Minute Maid Park, home of the Astros to contest the Baltimore Orioles.

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The first lady was in Dallas early Tuesday, encouraging Texans to get vaccinated during a performance with former Dallas cowboys who turned Emmitt Smith back.

“Today we are finally getting back the things we lost. But as far as we’ve got, we’re not done yet, ”the first lady said in brief remarks after she and Smith visited a pop-up vaccination clinic at Emmett J. Conrad High School in Dallas.

Smith used a sports metaphor to emphasize the same thing.

“We are in the fourth quarter and the game is far from over,” he said after the tour in front of a group of freshly vaccinated people.

The first lady flew to Texas as part of President Joe Biden’s campaign to vaccinate as many Americans as possible against COVID-19 amid growing concerns over the spread of a new and more contagious strain known as the Delta variant.

Biden had set a goal of vaccinating 70% of American adults by Sunday’s fourth holiday when he planned a celebration of the nation’s independence from the virus at the White House.

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But while the government has conceded it won’t achieve Biden’s goal, the White House has announced that the president, first lady, vice president and her husband will continue to storm the country to encourage objectors to roll up their sleeves.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 66% of adults nationwide have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

In Texas, nearly 50% of people ages 12 and older – the demographic group cared for at the Dallas high school clinic – are fully protected from the disease caused by the coronavirus, according to state COVID-19 data on the CDC website.

The first lady said she came to Houston because of the low vaccination rate.

“The President, the Vice President, Doug and I, we care about the American people, our health,” she said after reaching out to a phalanx of journalists to encourage vaccination. “That’s why I’m here. That’s why Doug is here. “

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Emhoff added, “We’re going to places where the numbers need to get better.” The couple is scheduled to visit a vaccination center at a middle school in Phoenix on Wednesday.

The Dallas Clinic is open to students 12 years and older, school staff, parents, and members of the wider Dallas community. The Dallas Independent School District is hosting community vaccination clinics at various high schools every day this week.

Parkland Health & Hospital System gives the Pfizer vaccine, which requires two doses three weeks apart.

As an incentive, anyone who gets vaccinated in high school will receive tickets to the Six Flags Over Texas theme park. You can also win prizes such as airline or concert tickets and gift cards through a raffle sponsored by the office of Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson.

Biden and Emhoff’s stop in Houston was their first government appearance together. They campaigned together several times in the 2020 parliamentary elections.

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The Astros hosted the clinic as part of Major League Baseball’s Vaccinate at the Plate program, held in June, which incentivizes fans protecting themselves against COVID-19.