Analyses have shown that the vaccination rate in the U. S. is markedly lower in states that voted in last November’s election for then-President Donald Trump, who at times downplayed the severity of the pandemic, and now often the number of new cases is higher in the Trump states. Biden set a goal several months ago of having at least 70% of adults in the U. S. getting at least one vaccine shot by the annual July 4th Independence Day holiday. The U. S., however, fell short of that objective and the number now stands at 68.1%, according to government statistics.