President Biden emphasizes three messages in his address to Americans about the new Omicron variant of the coronavirus:
Variations are a cause for anxiety, not a cause for panic.
“We have the best vaccines in the world, the best drugs, the best scientists, and we’re learning more every day,” he said Monday. “We will fight this variation with actions of science, understanding and speed, not chaos and confusion.”
The best protection against Omicron is a vaccine.
“I know you’re tired of hearing me say this, the best defense against this new variant or any of the existing variants, the ones we’ve been dealing with, is to be fully vaccinated. and repeat injections,” he said.
If you’re 18 or older and fully vaccinated by June 1, get your booster shot today, he told Americans.
“They’re free and available at 80,000 locations from coast to coast,” he added. “Don’t wait. Go get your booster if it’s time for you to do so.”
He also emphasized that only children aged 5 years and older should be vaccinated.
If the vaccine needs to be updated against Omicron, the US will act quickly.
Scientists are currently racing to determine whether existing vaccines offer adequate protection against the Omicron variant. In the absence of one, Biden said the US would act quickly to update its vaccine supply.
“In the unlikely event that an up-to-date vaccine or booster is not needed in response to this new variant, we will accelerate the process of developing and deploying them with all available tools,” he said. Yes.
“We are not yet convinced that additional measures will be needed,” he added. “But to get us ready, if needed, my team worked with officials at Pfizer and Moderna and Johnson & Johnson to develop contingency plans for a vaccine or booster if needed. “
“I would also direct the FDA and CDC to use the fastest process available without cutting any corners to ensure it is safe for such a vaccine to be approved and put on the market if needed.”
