WASHINGTON DC—President Joe Biden received his COVID-19 vaccine booster Tuesday to encourage Americans to get theirs and ensure a healthy holiday season.
“I want to speak directly to those with special conditions. New variants may render some existing protections ineffective for the immunocompromised. Unfortunately, this means you may be at special risk this winter. So I urge you, I urge you to consult your doctor about the right steps to protect yourself, please take extra precautions,” Biden said.
Biden delivered his message at the White House alongside doctors leading the US government’s efforts against the spread of COVID-19. Also with them were executives from several major pharmacy chains, who are renewing efforts to get people boosted with the COVID-19 vaccine, which has been reformulated to target the BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants of omicron, the most dominant strains in the United States.
“We’ve already lost over a million Americans to COVID, over a million Americans to COVID. You know, we can do a lot now to reduce the number of people dying from this terrible disease. We have the tools. We have the vaccines. We have the treatments. None of this is about politics, it’s about your health, the health of your loved ones.”
1 OUT OF EVERY 5 ELDERLY ADULTS HAVE RECEIVED THE BOOSTER
More than 20 million people, including nearly 1 in 5 older adults, have already received the updated COVID-19 vaccine booster, according to the White House.
Biden again called on business, education and civic leaders to do more to encourage their communities to get up-to-date vaccines, which are free.
Three respiratory viruses are currently circulating in the United States: influenza, COVID-19 and RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, said Dr. Ashish Jha, leader of the White House response to COVID-19.
Jha said during several appearances on morning TV shows that the combination of the flu vaccine and the updated COVID-19 booster will now help people avoid serious illness and stay out of the hospital as they prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving. and other parties with friends and family.
NO VACCINE TO MITIGATE THE DAMAGE OF RSV
RSV has been affecting children, but there is no vaccine available to treat it, although companies are working to develop one, he said.
“So if people went out and got vaccinated, we could get through this without getting into too much trouble,” Jha said Tuesday on “CBS Mornings.”
“If you rely on your old vaccine from nine months ago or an infection from a year ago, it probably won’t be enough, and that’s one of the reasons we’re urging all Americans — but older Americans in particular — to especially the elderly — to get the new updated COVID-19 vaccine, because I think it’s going to make a really big difference,” Jha said on NBC’s “Today” show.
Biden had to wait a few months to get the updated COVID-19 vaccine because he was infected, and then re-infected, with COVID-19 over the summer.
At least 14 states already have Influenza, COVID-19 and RSV. To see more from Telemundo, visit https://www.nbc.com/networks/telemundo
