'Get your booster shot now, so you can have this additional protection during the holiday season,' Biden urged fully vaccinated Americans on Friday.
The president also pointed to the importance of global vaccinations as he urged countries worldwide to vaccinate their populations against the virus amid the spread of the new strain.
"The news about this new variant should make clearer than ever why this pandemic will not end until we have global vaccinations," he said in the statement."The United States has already donated more vaccines to other countries than every other country combined. It is time for other countries to match America's speed and generosity."
The World Health Organization met on Friday to discuss the new variant, which officials in South Africa first shared with the international organization on Wednesday.WHO said in a statementPresident Joe Biden said on Friday that the new COVID variant"spreads rapidly" and urged nationwide and global vaccinations. Above, a sign outside of a hospital advertises the COVID-19 vaccine on November 19 in New York City.
Only six countries in Africa had reached that goal by late November, according to figures compiled by Our World in Data. However, South Africa is not expected to reach that 40 percent threshold before the year ends.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Biden wishes Americans happy, closer-to-normal ThanksgivingPres. Biden wished Americans a happy and closer-to-normal Thanksgiving, the second celebrated in the shadow of the coronavirus pandemic, in remarks welcoming the resumption of holiday traditions in many homes.
Read more »
Joe Biden wants to revive FDR’s Conservation Corps“Roosevelt’s Tree Army”, as the corps was called, may be getting a 21st-century makeover
Read more »
Biden claims 'America's back' in Thanksgiving message amid inflation, COVID surge'There's nothing we're unable to overcome,' the president said on Thursday, as coronavirus cases rise and the economy experiences a 31-year high for inflation.
Read more »
Biden visits Coast Guard on ThanksgivingPresident Biden and first lady Jill Biden visited the Coast Guard Brant Station on Nantucket, thanking the service members for their service and sacrifice.
Read more »
Biden sets out oil and gas leasing reform, stops short of banThe long-awaited report by the Interior Department stops short of recommending an end to oil and gas leasing on public lands, as many environmental groups have urged.
Read more »