The Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC, for its acronym in English) have insisted this Monday on their recommendation of the booster vaccine against COVID-19, given the new variant of the virus called omicron, which raises concern in all the world.
Experts say that
all adults over the age of 18
should receive the booster shot within six months of the second dose of Pfizer or Moderna and two months of the single dose of Johnson & Johnson.
CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said data coming in from southern Africa indicates more contagion from omicron.
"
I strongly urge the 47 million adults who are not yet vaccinated
to do so as soon as possible and vaccinate the children and adolescents in their families also because strong immunity will likely prevent serious diseases," he said in a statement, agreeing. with CNN.
[How can we avoid contagion from the new omicron variant? A doctor explains]
Nurse Katherine Pachota, right, prepares to vaccinate veteran Rigoberto Montesinos, 82, in February 2021 in Miami's Little Havana neighborhood.Wilfredo Lee / AP
In the same vein, the president, Joe Biden, indicated earlier that immunization is the best way to protect oneself from the coronavirus and deal with the new variant, called B.1.1.529, which was detected last week in South Africa.
The CDC last month recommended the booster for people over 50 and those of any age living in an institute or long-term care facility, noting that any adult over the age of 18 could receive the dose if they so desired. .
The change, now, is that it says that everyone "should" receive it.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has said that omicron represents a "very high" global risk.
Added to this is the fact that a dozen countries have already detected cases in their territory.
It will take a few weeks of testing to know for sure if the omicron variant is more contagious than delta and if it evades the protection offered by being infected with COVID-19 or vaccines.
Scientists are also investigating whether it causes a more serious illness or evades the effects of treatments.
However, experts have pointed out that
limiting the contagion prevents the virus from continuing to mutate
and become stronger, and that there is a rebound in cases that collapses the health system.
[How new variants of COVID-19 such as omicron emerge and why they cause concern]
"
To stop the spread of COVID-19, we must follow prevention strategies that we know work,
" said the CDC director.
This includes vaccination, wearing masks, improving indoor ventilation, and keeping your distance from others, especially if they are not vaccinated.
The omicron variant has already been detected in at least 15 countries including Canada
Nov. 29, 202102: 33
Both the United States and part of Europe, Japan and Israel have already announced air restrictions with South Africa and seven other countries in the area in order to stop the spread of this variant, which has about
30 mutations
.
However, Biden ruled out new restrictions or quarantine periods in the country.
"If people are vaccinated and wear masks, no closures are necessary," he said during an appearance from the White House.
