Omicron variant may ‘evade immune protection,’ Fauci says. COVID news.
The omicron mutation of the coronavirus “strongly suggests” it is easily transmitted and might elude immunity protections gained by previous infections and even vaccination, Dr. Anthony Fauci warned Sunday.
“It’s not necessarily that that’s going to happen, but it’s a strong indication that we really need to be prepared for that,” Fauci said on “Meet the Press,” adding that omicron ” just kind of exploded” in South Africa.
Fauci, President Joe Biden’s chief medical adviser, lauded the efforts of South African public health officials, who he said were completely transparent from the beginning. U.S officials were getting real-time information last week and continue to receive updates, he said.
Francis Collins, director of the National Institute of Health, told Fox News Sunday that it will take two or three weeks to tell whether antibodies from vaccines or previous infections will be effective against omicron.
“We expect that most likely the current vaccines will be sufficient to provide protection,” Collins said. “And especially the boosters will give that additional layer of protection.”
Collins and Fauci both said the troubling emergence of omicron is yet another reason for Americans to get vaccinated and obtain booster shots.
“Whether or not we’re headed into a bleak or bleaker winter is really going to depend upon what we do,” Fauci said. “So this is a clarion call as far as I’m concerned of saying let’s put aside all of these differences that we have and say, ‘if you’re not vaccinated, get vaccinated. If you’re fully vaccinated, get boosted, and get the children vaccinated also.’ We now have time.”
Also in the news:
►Ten preteens from across New York state have won the first round of college scholarships in the state’s “Vaccinate, Educate, Graduate” contest for 5- to 11-year-olds who get vaccinated against COVID-19, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Saturday.
►The Dallas Cowboys are going virtual with meetings leading into Thursday’s game at New Orleans because of a rise in infections within the team. Right tackle Terence Steele was among the positive COVID-19 tests and won’t play against the Saints, coach Mike McCarthy said Sunday.
►At least 161 Colorado companies and individuals who owed millions in back taxes still qualified for federal pandemic relief loans, a KUSA-TV investigation found. “Essentially, they’re benefiting from taxpayer money without contributing to the system,” said Tim Stretton, a director at the Project On Government Oversight.
►Swiss voters appeared set Sunday to approve legislation for a special certificate that lets only people who have been vaccinated, recovered or tested negative attend public events and gatherings.
📈Today’s numbers: The U.S. has recorded more than 48.2 million confirmed COVID-19 cases and more than 776,500 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University data. Global totals: More than 261.2 million cases and nearly 5.2 million deaths. More than 196.1 million Americans – roughly 59.1% of the population – are fully vaccinated, according to the CDC.
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