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The White House family is growing after the Bidens adopted a new puppy named Commander.

President BidenJoe BidenGoldman lowers 2022 growth forecasts after Manchin says no to BBB Biden’s unending dilemma: Dealing with Joe Manchin The day democracy almost died MORE’s speech scheduled for Tuesday will center on improving access to COVID-19 vaccines and tests, rather than “lockdowns.”

For The Hill, we’re Peter Sullivan (psullivan@thehill.com), Nathaniel Weixel (nweixel@thehill.com) and Justine Coleman (jcoleman@thehill.com). Write to us with tips and feedback, and follow us on Twitter: @PeterSullivan4, @NateWeixel and @JustineColeman8.

Let’s get started.

White House: Speech to avoid ‘lockdowns’ 

President Biden is set to make a speech on Tuesday to address rising COVID-19 infections across the country. But according to the White House, he will not endorse any new virus restrictions. Instead, he will announce new steps to increase access to coronavirus vaccines and tests.

“This is not a speech about locking the country down,” White House press secretary Jen PsakiJen PsakiGoldman lowers 2022 growth forecasts after Manchin says no to BBB Biden’s unending dilemma: Dealing with Joe Manchin Omar: Manchin’s excuse for not supporting Build Back Better is ‘bulls—‘ MORE told reporters during a briefing Monday. “This is a speech outlining and being direct and clear with the American people about the benefit of being vaccinated, the steps we’re going to take to increase access and to increase testing and the risks posed to unvaccinated individuals.”

Biden administration officials have urged Americans to get vaccinated and for those who are eligible to get booster doses to protect themselves from severe illness, especially as new variants have emerged.

Biden, who met privately with his coronavirus advisers Monday afternoon, is slated to deliver a speech Tuesday amid an uptick in cases due to the more transmissible delta and omicron variants.

The president will say that “while vaccinated individuals get COVID due to the highly transmissibility nature of omicron, their cases will likely be mild or asymptomatic,” Psaki said. 

“He’ll restate that we’re prepared and that fully vaccinated individuals have the tools to protect themselves with a booster shot and masking where CDC recommends,” she continued. “For those who remain unvaccinated, he’ll issue a stark warning and make clear unvaccinated individuals will continue to drive hospitalizations and deaths.”

Read more here.

Moderna: Booster increases antibody levels 

The company said in a statement that preliminary data from a study showed that an authorized booster shot of 50 micrograms — which is half the amount used in the initial two Moderna doses — increases antibody levels against omicron 37-fold compared to pre-booster levels. However, when the initial dosage amount of 100 micrograms is used as a booster, neutralizing antibodies levels go up 83-fold, it added.   

“The dramatic increase in…