Vice President Harris Visits Atlanta To Support Vaccination Push

Vice President Kamala Harris was in Atlanta on Friday encouraging people to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

The White House declared June a COVID Month of Action in an effort to raise vaccination rates. During her visit, Harris stopped by a vaccination event at Ebenezer Baptist Church and spoke to students at Clark Atlanta University.

Austin Euler is the offensive tackle for the Clark Atlanta football team. He said while he was excited to see the vice president he also wanted to show his support for being vaccinated.

"I wish more people could be here, but it is really great that she's here to try to push this, especially on an HBCU campus," Euler said.

Autymn Epps, president of the Clark Atlanta Student Government Association, said meeting Harris was a lifelong dream of hers.

"This is not something that everyone can say they have done or even done in a lifetime, so I am definitely grateful to be here today," she said.

Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, Sens. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff, and Rep. Nikema Williams each made remarks prior to the vice president.

"The scripture says 'Weeping endures in the night but joy comes in the morning,'" Warnock said. "We’re on the brink of morning.”

Bottoms said that Harris' visit symbolized the White House's continuing commitment to Atlanta.

"If you ever wonder how important Atlanta and Georgia is to the White House — it has been confirmed today that Georgia is on their mind," Bottoms said.

During her remarks, Harris pushed for the students in attendance to continue encouraging their friends and neighbors to get the COVID-19 vaccine. She also promoted the milestones currently met in vaccination rates across the country.

"We all felt so powerless in the face of this virus," Harris said. "But students, remember — you are powerful and I am here today to tell you that we together have the power to end this pandemic. Atlanta is powerful."

The number of eligible Georgians who have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine is just over 41%. The Biden administration is aiming to raise the national vaccination rate to 70% by July 4.