the debate over mask and vaccine mandates is dividing Americans.
The Biden administration on Wednesday unveiled plans to begin offering COVID-19 booster shots on Sept. 20 for American adults who received the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines as cases of the highly contagious delta coronavirus variant continue to spread across the country.
The U.S. will provide a third shot to Americans who received their second vaccine dose at least eight months ago, pending authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
President Joe Biden announced the decision – along with a series of measures to boost vaccination rates at nursing homes and thwart states' plans to block mask mandates in schools – in remarks at the White House.
"This will boost your immune response. It will increase your protection from COVID-19," Biden said. "That's the best way to protect ourselves from new variants that could arise."