The President is holding out hope for a semi-normal Fourth of July.

Last night, President Joe Biden gave his first prime time televised address since becoming President. He specifically chose yesterday to make his statements, as it marked the one-year anniversary of the novel coronavirus and COVID-19 being declared a global pandemic.

Biden spoke solemnly about what the American people have been forced to endure over the past year, calling it a “A collective suffering, collective sacrifice, a year filled with a loss of life and a loss of living for all of us,” and adding that he keeps a card in his pocket with a running tally of COVID-induced deaths so he never forgets.

In addition to remembrance, though, Biden offered some hope for the future, announcing that by May 1, he would be directing all US states to make all adults eligible for vaccination.

“I need you to get vaccinated when it’s your turn and when you can find an opportunity,” he said.

Biden said that his intended goal is to ensure that all Americans can enjoy the Fourth of July alongside their families and friends. “It will make this Independence Day truly special — where we not only mark out independence as a nation but our independence from this virus,” he said.

Currently, Biden’s administration is on track to fulfill one of his major campaign promises of administering 100 million vaccine shots within his first 100 days in office. In fact, at the current rate of vaccination in the United States, he could reach this milestone within the next ten days, only 60 days into his presidency.

However, Biden made sure to remind everyone that we are not in the clear yet, as new mutations and variants, not to mention premature relaxing of safety mandates, could still cause problems.. “We can’t let our guard down. This fight is far from over,” he said. “… On July 4 with your loved ones is the goal.”