Voice of America
30 Nov 2021, 05:05 GMT+10
WASHINGTON - U.S. President Joe Biden made a new plea Monday to Americans to get vaccinated against the coronavirus¸ or get booster shots if they have already been inoculated, in the face of what his top medical adviser says is the inevitability that the new omicron variant will enter the country.
"Do not wait," Biden told the estimated 60 million unvaccinated people in the country during a short White House address. "If you are not vaccinated, go get it now."
But the president said he does not currently believe that additional shutdowns of businesses and schools are needed because of the new omicron threat.
Biden said he would "spare no effort" to fight the new variant but health officials expressed the hope that those already vaccinated have a measure of protection against it, even as more scientific studies are being conducted.
Cases of the variant, first identified in South Africa, have now been found in several countries and Biden, starting Monday, has banned flights into the United States from South Africa and seven other countries in Africa.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top U.S. infectious disease expert, told ABC's "Good Morning America" show that scientists are hoping to learn in the next week or two how well the existing COVID-19 vaccines will protect people against the omicron variant, and how dangerous it might prove to be.
"We really don't know,' Fauci said.
COVID-19, the disease cause by the coronavirus, has killed more than 750,000 people in the U.S. during the 20-month pandemic, more than in any other country.
Biden said vaccines in the U.S. will always first be available for Americans and for free. He said, however, that the country also has a "moral obligation" to help the rest of the would get vaccinated and that widespread inoculations would help end the global pandemic.
He said 275 million vaccine doses produced in the U.S. have already been shipped to 110 other countries.
"We're throwing everything we can at this virus," he said.
Get a daily dose of Johannesburg Life news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Johannesburg Life.
More InformationSOLOMON ISLANDS: In a move that opponents said is aimed at controlling and censoring the media, the government of the ...
WASHINGTON D.C.: In July, a Florida man was killed by exploding Takata airbag inflators, possibly becoming the 20th death in ...
Israel has launched an unprovoked war against the Palestinian resistance group Islamic Jihad. The Israeli army assassinated a high-ranking commander ...
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - Pakistan categorically denied on Thursday that a U.S. drone strike in Kabul that killed al-Qaeda chief Ayman ...
EAST NUSA TENGGARA, Indonesia: Hundreds of Indonesian tourism workers went on strike this week to protest a sharp rise in ...
NASSAU, Bahamas: A team of explorers have announced that they have uncovered a treasure, including coins, gemstones and priceless jewels, ...
In July, a UN human rights officer embarked on an outreach visit to the Horn of Africa's Sool and Sanaag ...
Washington [US], August 8 (ANI): The Australian actor Paul Eenhoorn, best known for his critically acclaimed cameo appearances in the ...
London - A London museum agreed Sunday to return a collection of Benin Bronzes looted in the late 19th century ...
Johannesburg, South Africa - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in South Africa on Sunday in what analysts describe ...
BUTHA-BUTHE, Lesotho - While millions across Europe sweat through a summer of record-breaking heat, they're skiing in Africa.Don't worry. This ...
Ashleigh Buhai of South Africa persevered through four playoff holes and made a crucial sand save her fourth time through ...