After the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that the Omicron variant has become the leading cause of HIV infection in the country, President Joseph Biden said, "If you're not fully vaccinated, you have good reason to be concerned. You have a high risk of getting sick.
During a press briefing Tuesday, the president pointed out that if unvaccinated people get sick, they are likely to infect others, including friends and family members. "The unvaccinated have a significantly higher risk of ending up in the hospital or even dying," he said.
"The longer the virus is around, the more likely it is that variants will form that can be more deadly than the previous ones," he said.
The president acknowledged the weariness and frustration of Americans with the increase in cases due to new variants of the disease, which are increasingly impacting humans more and more aggressively.
"I know how you feel. For many of you, this will be the first or even the second Christmas where you look across the table and there will be an empty chair. Tens of millions of people have been sick, and we have all experienced an upheaval in our lives," he said.
"But while COVID has been a tough adversary, we have shown that we are tougher: tougher because we have the power of science and vaccines that prevent disease and save lives, and tougher because of our determination."
Last July, he said, there were 90 million adults who had not even received any doses of the vaccine, but thanks to high vaccination rates this fall, only 40 million remain to be vaccinated.
He added that almost all of those who have died from COVID-19 in recent months were not vaccinated.
"But if you're among the majority of Americans who are fully vaccinated, and especially if you've had the booster shot, you have much less reason to worry. You have a high degree of protection against serious disease."
Biden reminded that the Omicron strain spreads so easily, that fully vaccinated people will contract COVID.
"There will be positive cases in every office, including here at the White House, among those vaccinated, but it is very unlikely that these cases will result in serious illness. Vaccinated people who get infected may get sick, but they are protected from serious illness and death. That's why you should continue to be vigilant," he stressed.
According to doctors, he explained, even if you are fully vaccinated, you should wear a mask when you are in public places.
"Wearing a facemask provides extra protection for you and those around you. And I know some Americans wonder if they can safely celebrate the holidays with their family and friends. The answer is yes, if you and the people you're celebrating with are vaccinated, especially if you've had the booster shot."
"Get vaccinated now. It's free. It's convenient. I promise you it saves lives. And I sincerely believe it's your patriotic duty."
"Unfortunately, there are still tens of millions of people who are eligible for the booster vaccine who have not yet received it. They've received the first two vaccines, but they haven't received the booster. I got my booster shot as soon as it became available. And just the other day, former President Trump announced that he had gotten the booster shot. That may be one of the few things he and I agree on.
He reaffirmed that there will be no mass closures of establishments and public spaces, as happened in March 2020.
"Absolutely not. There are three big differences between then and now: One - the first - more than 200 million Americans have been fully vaccinated. More than 200 million Americans should have the peace of mind that they didn't have in March 2020: They're protected from hospitalization, and they're protected from death."
Second point, he said, "Today we are prepared for what is coming. In March 2020, we were not prepared. Today, we have made a sufficient effort - we have stockpiled enough gowns, masks and ventilators to deal with the surge of hospitalizations among the unvaccinated. Today we are prepared.
As a third point, he noted that, unlike in March 2020, schools should no longer be closed to keep children safe, as children aged 5 to 11 can be vaccinated.
"Today we don't have to close schools because of a case of COVID-19. Now, if one student tests positive, the others can be tested and stay in the classroom if they are not infected, instead of closing the whole school or having to quarantine it."
"We should all be worried about Omicron, but not scared."
Biden said that, as additional measures to those already taken to counteract the pandemic, the intensification of vaccination efforts and booster doses has been launched, so that 10,000 new vaccination points have been added to the existing 80,000, while new ones will be opened in January 2022.
He added that starting this week, hundreds of vaccinators and more sites will be deployed to help get the boosters.
He recalled that vaccine uptake slowed this summer due to misinformation on social media and in the media.
"These companies and personalities are making money by peddling lies and enabling disinformation that can kill their own customers and their own supporters. It's wrong, it's immoral, and I call on the purveyors of these lies and disinformation to stop them. Stop it now.
In terms of testing, he noted that the federal government will purchase one billion additional home rapid tests, which will be delivered starting in January.
"We will get these tests to Americans for free. And we'll have websites where they can be delivered to your home."
He further explained that hospitals are being prepared for what's coming. "Those 40 million unvaccinated adults are very likely to get COVID-19, and some of you are going to get very sick. That's going to mean that hospitals are going to be very stressed again, both in terms of equipment and staffing to take care of those who get sick."
He also said he has ordered the Pentagon to mobilize 1,000 more troops to help staff local hospitals and expand their capacity, in addition to 300 federal doctors.
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