As new strains of coronavirus appear in various parts of the world and cases within the U.S. continue to peak, officials are stressing the importance of getting vaccinated.
"Right now the science suggests that the vaccines are still effective against the strains that have been identified but we're in a race," U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams told Cheddar.
Adams said the existence of new virus strains is not uncommon, and COVID-19 has mutated nearly 30 times since it was first discovered. However, he noted that mutations do not necessarily mean the virus will become more deadly or contagious.
While the vaccines appear to be holding up against new variants, there is still pressure, according to Adams, to reach "community immunity" before those doses become ineffective. As a result, the Surgeon General said that more has to be done to increase the volume of vaccinations and to speed up the process.
"We need businesses to be advocates for vaccines and to help us spread information about how people can stay healthy, including by getting vaccinated, so we can open up schools, open up restaurants, get back to worship again, get back to doing the things that we were doing in 2019 before we ever heard of this thing called COVID-19," Adams said.
In a report released today by the Office of the Surgeon General, a lack of prevention investments has impacted the overall health of the country and when it comes to COVID-19, in particular, Adams said he thinks businesses can be a line of defense against the virus if they are willing to be more vocal about people maintaining their health.
He said he was aware of the hesitancy many Americans have when it comes to taking the vaccine, partly because of the speed in which it was developed but wants the public to understand that "there were no safety corners cut whatsoever." Adams expressed a fear that misinformation could cause many people to avoid the vaccine altogether.
Vaccine Timeline
Officials planned for 20 million Americans to get vaccinated by the end of 2020, but the straggling rollout only yielded about 2.8 million people who had received a dose by year's end, partly because some hospitals didn't receive enough doses, while others received a surplus. The surgeon general said that in addition to using pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens, the focus should be shifted to all possible avenues to quickly get as many people vaccinated as possible.
"We need to use churches and other sites where people are so that we can quickly get vaccinations into arms," he noted. "And we also need to address vaccine confidence because a vaccine does nothing if a person is unwilling to take it."
For Adams, it's an all-hands-on-deck approach to stomping out COVID-19 and as the Biden administration gears up to take over the White House, he said he hopes to work with the administration, particularly Surgeon General nominee Vivek Murthy, to continue the effort.
"Dr. Murthy and I have worked together for the past three and half years. It's a small group of surgeons general," Adams said.
"I want us to be successful, and I'm committed to helping the Biden administration and our country — because I am the nation's doctor — really recover from this pandemic. And that's why I put this report out today," he added.
Markets opened lower this morning as investors rounded out a wild 2021. Jay Hatfield, CEO Infrastructure Capital Advisors, joined Cheddar's Opening Bell to discuss which sectors and industries to watch in the new year.
Markets opened higher as investors react to positive data on the labor front, with weekly jobless claims falling to 198,000 for the week ending December 25. Ross Mayfield, investment strategy analyst at Baird joined Cheddar's Opening Bell to discuss the market open.
U.S. officials spoke to Russian leaders for nearly eight hours earlier this week, in hopes of reducing tensions between Russia and Ukraine. Russia forced the west to the negotiating table by massing 100,000 troops near the Ukrainian border, sparking fears of an invasion, and then submitted a set of demands which the west rejected. Joel Rubin, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State & President at Washington Strategy Group explains what the rest of the week might look like, and why other European nations may be on the side of the U.S.
Chicago schools opened their doors again following a dispute between the teachers union and the city over as the omicron variant continues to surge, but the safety issues they fought over weren't just limited to the Windy City. Dr. Bayo Curry-Winchell, family medicine and urgent care doctor, joined Cheddar in discussing concerns of parents, teachers, and students as schools try to operate amid COVID and noted what she's been observing as the number of infections among children rises. "I am seeing them contract the illness from so many different aspects," she said. "It could be from a fellow classmate. It could be from a parent. All of those things really play in the effect of transmission as well as contracting the illness."
Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) is looking for clarification about a federal standard regarding THC impairment while driving. "I think in terms of marijuana, the fact that it's still a Schedule 1 narcotic — it's treated the same as heroin and cocaine — it means that we can't get standards developed," he said about the lack of cohesive regulations. The lawmaker also explained his previous opposition to cannabis legalization in Colorado when he was governor and why his position changed.
With Martin Luther King Jr. Day fast approaching, Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C. 6th District), the House Majority Whip, talked about the importance of honoring the iconic civil rights activist. "As we consider the life and celebrate the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., let's think about who and what we are as a country, and whether or not we're going to give up on the ideals of this country or continue to press forward," he said. Clyburn also discussed the push for new voting legislation, the For the People Act and the John Lewis Act, as well as the fate of the Senate filibuster.
One year after the attack on Capitol Hill, America is still deeply divided and politically broken. Zoe Tillman, senior reporter for BuzzFeed News, breaks down President Biden's remarks on January 6, and why the country disagrees on its views over the violent insurrection.
While the pandemic caused financial troubles for many, the unique circumstances of the last two years proved helpful to many Americans. Whether it was the federal government's stimulus checks, expanded unemployment insurance, or general lockdowns, recent data reveals that the covid-19 pandemic helped many reach financial security. Neale Godfrey, Financial Expert and New York Times #1 Best Selling Author joined Cheddar's Opening Bell to discuss.
U.S. markets opened higher despite red-hot inflation data which showed the highest surge in nearly 40 years. Jon Maier, CIO, GlobalX ETFs joined Cheddar's Opening Bell to discuss this historic report.
Meta's request to have a Federal Trade Commission antitrust lawsuit dismissed was rejected by a federal judge. Prosecutors presented enough evidence in their latest filing to go forward with the case accusing the tech giant of operating a social networking monopoly through Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
