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COVID-19 vaccine for kids: Here are a pediatrician's answers to common questions - CBS News

COVID-19 vaccine for kids: Here are a pediatrician's answers to common questions - CBS News

COVID-19 vaccine for kids: Here are a pediatrician's answers to common questions - CBS News
Dec 06, 2021 2 mins, 54 secs

With at least 16 states now reporting cases of the Omicron variant have been detected, there's still much more we don't know about the spread of the latest COVID-19 strain. .

The first cases of the Omicron variant have been detected in the United States.

How concerned should we be about this variant and do we know whether vaccines will work against it.

Many of them are in the spike protein region of the virus, which is the area targeted by our current vaccines and some of our treatments.

That raises the question as to whether it will be able to evade our immune systems and the protections provided by either our current vaccines or prior COVID-19 infection.

We shouldn't be surprised that cases of the Omicron variant have been discovered in the U.S.

Regardless of whether the Omicron variant causes a surge in COVID-19, we continue to lack control over the Delta variant, the current dominant strain.

Our current vaccines work incredibly well against Delta, yet millions of people remain unvaccinated.

And whether it's Delta, Omicron, or any other variant, the public health playbook—masks in indoor public settings, testing, handwashing, ventilation—still provides extremely effective tools to manage this pandemic, but only if we choose to use them. .

Until COVID-19 transmission is under control everywhere—and unless and until vaccines are available and easily accessible for everyone around the globe—we can expect COVID-19 to continue to freely circulate, which will lead to additional new variants.

While new variants could easily emerge in the United States, both Omicron and Delta originated outside our borders, and both swiftly found their way here.

Other nations simply do not have the resources to do so, yet wealthy nations continue to hoard vaccines: the latest numbers show that approximately three-quarters of vaccines administered worldwide have been in high- and upper-middle income countries.

There is a moral, economic, and health imperative for the United States to redouble our own efforts and galvanize efforts by other nations to help vaccinate the world.

Thanks to the safety and effectiveness of our current vaccines and increased availability of home testing, Thanksgiving in 2021 was a lot more joyous for our family than it was in 2020, and we had the peace of mind that comes with doing things the right way.

Too often, however, when it comes to returning to our normal lives, people are still viewing public health guidance as an enemy rather than an ally.

If, on the other hand, Omicron does not cause more severe infection and current vaccines continue to offer protection, gathering can be done pretty safely if we adhere to public health guidance.

A few days ago, President Biden announced stronger testing protocols for international travelers coming to the United States and extended the federal mask requirement for planes, trains, and other forms of public transportation.

But providing temporary support that only gets us past an immediate public health threat is insufficient if we are to finally address the fundamental barriers to economic prosperity and health that still exist in America

Among other steps, the bill would provide health insurance to millions of people living in states that have declined to expand their Medicaid programs; extend higher Child Tax Credit payments for a year and make those with no or low wages permanently eligible for the full amount; make major investments in affordable housing and child nutrition programs, and significantly increase access to child care services and paid leave benefits

Summarized by 365NEWSX ROBOTS

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