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November 29, 2021 – President Joe Biden said on Monday that available vaccines are expected to provide some protection against the new version of Omicron COVID-19 and federal health officials are working to gather more information about its potency before the first cases in the United States.
He was accompanied by a leading expert on infectious diseases, Dr. Anthony Fauci. The president was briefed by health officials on Sunday.
Biden said he did not expect a blockade or stricter restrictions and hoped to fight the option by increasing the vaccination rate.
“This option is a cause for concern, not panic,” he said. “We will fight this option with scientific and informed action and speed, not chaos and confusion. Today, we have more tools to fight the option than ever before. “
Scientists will work over the next few weeks to learn more about the virus and determine the level of protection provided by the available photos of COVID-19. Omicron was first discovered in South Africa, prompting Biden to impose a travel ban, and cases have already been reported in several European countries, as well as in Canada.
Biden praised the South African health community for promptly notifying the world of the option, and said the travel ban was introduced to give more time for U.S. residents to get vaccinated and step up.
“The best defense against this new option, or any of the options out there, is to get fully vaccinated and get a booster,” he said.
He continued: “Although it will be several weeks before we understand everything we need to know about how strong the protection of existing vaccines against the option, Dr. Fauci, who is with me today, and our medical team believe that vaccines will continue to provide some protection against serious illness. “
He urged people to continue wearing masks indoors in public places for an extra layer of protection.
In the unlikely event that vaccines are not effective against the option, Biden said, the White House is working with Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson to “develop contingency plans for boosters if necessary.”
“I will also order the FDA and CDC to use the fastest process available, without cutting safety corners, to approve these vaccines on the market if necessary,” he said.
But he stressed that this is unlikely.
“As we continue this effort, let’s remember where we are,” he said. “We are in a very different place when we enter the month of December than we were last Christmas.
He noted that only 1% of adult Americans were vaccinated last December, and this December that number will be over 70%.
“If you’ve been vaccinated but are still worried about the new option, get a booster,” he said. “If you haven’t been vaccinated, go get your first vaccine.”
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