The White Home COVID-19 Response group Wednesday mentioned early knowledge signifies the omicron coronavirus variant is spreading within the U.S., however present vaccine boosters seem like efficient in preventing it.
CDC Director Rochelle Walensky mentioned the variant is in 36 U.S. states and accounts for 3% of all U.S. COVID-19 instances, although it’s larger in some areas, similar to New York and New Jersey, the place it might account for as a lot 13% of instances.
Walensky mentioned whereas the overwhelming majority — 96% — of U.S. instances are nonetheless attributable to the delta variant, she mentioned early knowledge present the omicron variant spreads sooner than delta, with instances doubling in about two days.
Walensky, together with White Home Chief Medical Adviser Anthony Fauci and COVID-19 Response coordinator Jeff Zients, cited knowledge exhibiting being absolutely vaccinated together with a booster shot is one of the best ways to battle off the brand new variant.
“Our booster vaccine regimens work in opposition to omicron,” Fauci mentioned. “At this level, there isn’t a want for a variant-specific booster.”
Walensky cited current knowledge from U.S. nursing houses exhibiting unvaccinated or absolutely vaccinated residents with out boosters had been 10 instances extra more likely to contract COVID-19 than residents absolutely vaccinated with boosters. Fauci cited essentially the most real-world research exhibiting boosters can enhance anti-body safety in opposition to omicron by as a lot as 35 instances.
Zients cited CDC statistics exhibiting an unvaccinated particular person is eight instances extra more likely to be hospitalized and 14 instances extra more likely to die from COVID-19 than a totally vaccinated particular person. He mentioned a brand new research from the Yale College of Public Well being reveals the U.S. vaccination program prevented 10.3 million hospitalizations and saved 1.1 million lives.
The COVID-19 response coordinator mentioned 14 million folks obtained booster pictures within the first two weeks of December, with 26 million whole pictures in arms throughout the identical interval. In whole, the group reviews greater than 200 million U.S. residents at the moment are absolutely vaccinated, and greater than 55 million have obtained booster pictures.
Some data on this report was supplied by the Reuters information company.