The US has finally reached President Joe Biden’s goal of getting at least one Covid-19 shot into 70 per cent of American adults — a month late and amid a fierce surge by the Delta variant that is swamping hospitals and leading to new mask rules and mandatory vaccinations around the country.

There was no celebration at the White House nor a setting of a new target, as the administration instead struggles to overcome scepticism and outright hostility to the vaccine, especially in the South and other rural and conservative areas.

The US still has not hit the administration’s other goal of fully vaccinating 165 million American adults by July 4. It is about 8.5m short.

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