All American adults to be eligible for COVID-19 vaccine by April 19 -Biden

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden yesterday moved up the COVID-19 vaccine eligibility target for all American adults to April 19, but warned that with new virus variants spreading "we're still in a lifeand-death race" with the coronavirus.

Biden directed states to widen the vaccine eligibility to people 18 or older by April 19, two weeks earlier than the May 1 deadline he announced previously. No COVID-19 vaccine is authorized yet for children under 16, although testing is underway.

Most U.S. states had already said they would open vaccines to all adults by that new target date.

"What we do now is going to determine how many people we'll save or lose in the month of April and May, and June, before we get to July Fourth," Biden said at a White House event.

More than 80% of teachers and school staff had received at least one vaccination shot, Biden said, but noted that variants of the coronavirus are spreading and generating a rise in cases.

“We aren’t at the finish line. We still have a lot of work to do. We’re still in a life-or-death race," Biden said.

He said that by no later than April 19, every adult 18 or older will be eligible to be vaccinated.

White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Biden's announcement had confirmed for the public that "everyone is eligible around the country."

This means Americans no longer need to check with state and local websites to see whether they qualify, she said.

"No more confusing rules," said Biden.

Vaccine supplies and efficiency in getting shots into arms have increased significantly in the race to get more people inoculated as more contagious virus variants circulate.

Biden spoke after touring a vaccination site at Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, Virginia.