Lambda Variant News Today

As a result of the World Health Organization's designation of the new, highly contagious Omicron strain as a variant of concern on Nov 26

Thailand's prime minister has insisted that despite concerns over the new Coronavirus Omicron, the country will not reimpose any lockdowns

The Immigration Bureau and Ministry of Public Health report they are tracking down approximately 783 Africans who entered Thailand

Important? because our experience with variants such as the delta variant is that even though the vaccine isnt specifically targeted to the delta variant, when you get a high enough level of an immune response, you get spillover protection even against a variant that the vaccine wasnt specifically directed at. even though we dont have data on it, theres every reason to believe that that kind of increase you get with that boost would be effective on omicron. >> erin mclaughlin, youre in san diego...

Administrations view or that of other vaccine makers? >> i think -- i know that we dont have enough information right now. as we know, and youve said that, that the molecular profile of the kinds of mutations that you see would suggest, a, that it might be more transmissible, and that it might elude some of the protection of vaccines. but we dont know that now. we dont know what the constellation of mutations are actually going to be. we have to be prepared that theres going to be a diminution i...

Antibody, a neutralizing antibody, the peak following a second dose of a two-dose mrna, its like at this level. if you look at the peak involving the third shot boost, it goes way up here. people ask, why is that important? because our experience with variants such as the delta variant is that even though the vaccine isnt specifically targeted to the delta variant, when you get a high enough level of an immune response, you get spillover protection, even against the variant that the vaccine wasn...

Have too many people who are refusing to get vaccinated. we have tony says 60 million, its basically 41% of the population. really, i think its more than 60 million who are refusing to get vaccinated. and we still have not done well in terms of individuals who are eligible to get that third immunization, who have not gotten it. and we still have too many unvaccinated kids who are eligible. so if were ultimately going to end this pandemic, were going to have to vaccinate our way out of it. and i ...

Community. so our message is the same as it was yesterday, to best protect against this variant, get vaccinated, for a goodness sakes, if you have not been vaccinated. get your booster if youre eligible. continue to wear those masks inside where required. continue to take the steps that we know that have been successful in san francisco to prevent major loss of life and to slow the spread of this virus. we know how to do this, san francisco. at this time we do not anticipate changing any of our ...

Variant, we already know its in multiple european countries, in australia, in asia, and in north america. and the same is true of this virus. so the fact that its in the united states now was predicted. the fact that its in multiple countries does not in itself mean anything particularly ominous. so the key to focus on is what are the unique properties of this virus that give us pause, and in terms of its transmissibility and its ability to resist current vaccines, and im happy to discuss that i...

Polio, diphtheria, influenza type b. but we have to make that commitment. >> monica, the white house had been considering new travel restrictions in light of this variant. now we have it confirmed here. what is the status of that, will we be seeing updated testing requirements and potentially even required quarantines for international travelers? >> dr. fauci alluded to both of those points, katy, and he said theres still a lot of debate and discussion that needs to take place before they formal...