Keep schools open, mandate vaccines for all federal employees, and increase testing—these are three of the goals President Joe Biden outlined today during a briefing on America's ongoing battle against COVID-19.

The plan was delivered during a fourth surge of virus activity fueled by the highly contagious Delta (B1617.2) variant and a stagnant national vaccination campaign that's stalled at 53% of the US population vaccinated against the novel coronavirus.

"What more do you need to see?" Biden asked the 80 million Americans who are still unvaccinated. "The vaccine is FDA-approved, over 200 million Americans have gotten the shot. We have been patient, but our patience is wearing thin."

Just 4 months ago, Biden, with the guidance from Rochelle Walensky, MD, MPH, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said fully vaccinated Americans no longer had to wear masks, and promised a July 4th that would mark the country's freedom from the virus.

But, despite adequate supply, no cost to recipients, and several state-based incentives, vaccine uptake in the United States was not swift or comprehensive enough to block infections from the Delta variant this summer.