The new Biden administration could have big impact on COVID-19 vaccine, precautions in Georgia

ATLANTA — The inauguration of President Joe Biden focused on uniting the country during unprecedented crises.

The pageantry of the day was at a minimum and the president’s speech was about the work ahead.

“On this January day my whole soul is in this. Bringing America together, uniting our people, uniting our nation, and I ask every American to join me in this cause,” Biden said.

The president signed 17 executive orders on his inauguration day that addressed the pandemic response and immigration, among other issues.

Political experts say the new president is moving quickly for a reason.

“The pressure will start Day One,” said University of Georgia professor Scott Ainsworth.

Ainsworth told Channel 2′s Matt Johnson that the honeymoon phase for most new presidents may not apply to this one.

“Very little honeymoon, if any, and very tight competition in both the Senate and the House, and lots of pressing problems that need immediate attention,” Ainsworth said.

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Democratic Sens. Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock officially joined the Senate on Wednesday.

Ossoff spoke to Channel 2′s Richard Elliot exclusively before he was sworn in.

“I think that we are going to be busy and I think that this is much more about the work that we need to do and less about the pomp and circumstance of today. This country is reeling right now under the weight of the pandemic,” Ossoff said.

Biden has already laid out his nearly $2 trillion pandemic relief plan, but major legislation may need the support of 10 Republicans in the senate if it’s to pass quickly.

“A filibuster can only be broken with the approval of 60 senators. I wouldn’t expect democratic priorities to start flying through the Senate with a whole bunch of quickness,” said Georgia State University professor Jeffrey Lazarus.

Some responses may not need Congress.

State Sen. Michelle Au is also a metro Atlanta doctor. She’s optimistic the Biden administration can ramp up vaccine production as one of its early priorities.

“A vaccine itself doesn’t save lives. It’s vaccine delivery programs that save lives. So that’s going to be something we’re going to have to work on also,” Au said.

Ryan Wilson is the CEO of The Gathering Spot and helped campaign for Ossoff and Warnock.

After Wednesday, he said he has newfound optimism about America’s challenges.

“Now I feel like we have the leadership in place that’s going to aggressively work to try to overcome those challenges,” Wilson said.

Among the many executive orders he has signed, Biden has set a 100-day goal for some major issues. He wants Americans to wear masks between now and the end of April.

During that window, he also wants 100 million Americans vaccinated, most schools open and his pandemic relief plan passed.

Many people are having issues signing up for the 2nd dose of the COVID-19 vaccine

Cox Media Group