Washington: Top infectious diseases expert Dr Anthony Fauci said the current vaccines and booster shots against COVID are sufficient to prevent Omicron infection, as he advised against changing vaccines to fight the new, highly infectious strain of the virus at this time. .
It is known that Omicron eludes efficacy from current two-dose shots. A study from South Africa showed that protection against infection from a two-dose vaccine dropped to 33 percent, compared to 80 percent before the emergence of Omicron.
However, the two doses are still 70 percent effective at preventing hospitalizations in Omicron patients in South Africa, Fauci told the public during a White House COVID update on Wednesday, CNBC reported.
“Our booster vaccine works against Omicron. At this point, there is no need for a type-specific booster.
“Obviously, this is fairly low, but maintaining a degree of protection against hospitalization,” Fauci said.
Read | Omicron threat increased, WHO concerned about death toll
As a result, booster doses have been advised by many countries. The report said the booster dose increases protection against symptomatic disease by 75 percent, Fauci said, citing data from the UK Health Protection Agency.
“And so the message remains clear. If you’re unvaccinated, get vaccinated, and especially in Omicron’s area if you’re fully vaccinated, get your booster shot,” he said.
White House COVID response coordinator Jeff Ziants, citing data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said unvaccinated people are eight times more likely to end up in the hospital and die than those who are fully vaccinated. 14 times more likely.
According to CDC Director Rochelle Valensky, 36 states in the US have detected Omron so far, and the variant makes up about 3 percent of COVID cases nationwide. However, Omicron infections are much more likely in New York and New Jersey, she said, making up about 13 percent of cases.
“Preliminary data suggests that Omicron is more permeable than Delta, with a doubling time of about two days,” Valensky said.
According to CDC data, 61 percent of Americans are fully vaccinated against COVID and 27 percent of them have received a booster shot.
As of Tuesday, nearly 68,000 Americans have been hospitalized with COVID-19, up 9 percent from the previous week and 21 percent over the past two weeks, according to a seven-day average of data from the Department of Health and Human Services.
live TV
';
$('div.listing').append(string);
}
});
},
error:function(xhr){
//console.log("Error");
//console.log("An error occured: " + xhr.status + " " + xhr.statusText);
nextload=false;
},
complete: function(){
$('div.listing').find(".loading-block").remove();;
pg +=1;
//console.log("mod" + ice%2);
nextpath="&page=" + pg;
//console.log("request complete" + nextpath);
cat = "?cat=120183";
//console.log(nextpath);
nextload=(ice%2==0)?true:false;
}
});
}
//lastoff = last.offset();
//console.log("**" + lastoff + "**");
});*/
var maindiv = false;
var dis = 0;
var fbcontainer="";
var fbid = '';
var fb_script=document.createElement('script');
fb_script.text= "(function(d, s, id) {var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if (d.getElementById(id)) return;js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id;js.src="https://connect.facebook.net/en_GB/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.9";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));";
var fmain = $(".sr2420009");
//alert(x+ "-" + url);
var fdiv = '
';
//console.log(fdiv);
//$(fb_script).appendTo(fmain);
$(fdiv).appendTo(fmain);
function fillElementWithAd($el, slotCode, size, targeting){
if (typeof targeting === 'undefined') {
targeting = {};
} else if ( Object.prototype.toString.call( targeting ) !== '[object Object]' ) {
targeting = {};
}
var elId = $el.attr('id');
//console.log("elId:" + elId);
googletag.cmd.push(function(){
var slot = googletag.defineSlot(slotCode, size, elId);
for (var t in targeting){
slot.setTargeting(t, targeting
}
slot.addService(googletag.pubads());
googletag.display(elId);
//googletag.pubads().refresh([slot]);
});
}
$(document).delegate("button[id^='mf']", "click", function(){
fbcontainer="";
fbid = '#' + $(this).attr('id');
var sr = fbid.replace("#mf", ".sr");
$(fbid).parent().children(sr).toggle();
fbcontainer = $(fbid).parent().children(sr).children(".fb-comments").attr("id");
});
function onPlayerStateChange(event){
var ing, fid;
//console.log(event + "---player");
$('iframe[id*="video-"]').each(function(){
_v = $(this).attr('id');
//console.log("_v: " + _v);
if(_v != event){
//console.log("condition match");
ing = new YT.get(_v);
if(ing.getPlayerState()=='1'){
ing.pauseVideo();
}
}
});
$('div[id*="video-"]').each(function(){
_v = $(this).attr('id');
//console.log("_v: " + _v + " event: " + event);
if(_v != event){
//jwplayer(_v).play(false);
}
});
}
function onYouTubePlay(vid, code, playDiv,vx, pvid){
if (typeof(YT) == 'undefined' || typeof(YT.Player) == 'undefined') {
var tag = document.createElement('script');
tag.src = "https://www.youtube.com/iframe_api";
var firstScriptTag = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];
firstScriptTag.parentNode.insertBefore(tag, firstScriptTag);
window.onYouTubePlayerAPIReady = function() {
onYouTubePlayer(vid, code, playDiv,vx, pvid);
};
}else{onYouTubePlayer(vid, code, playDiv,vx, pvid);}
}
function onYouTubePlayer(vid, code, playDiv,vx, pvid){
//console.log(playDiv + "Get Youtue " + vid);
//$("#"+vid).find(".playvideo-"+ vx).hide();
var player = new YT.Player(playDiv , {
height: '450',
width: '100%',
videoId:code,
playerVars: {
'autoplay': 1,
'showinfo': 1,
'controls': 1
},
events: {
'onStateChange': function(event){
onPlayerStateChange(event.target.a.id);
}
}
});
$("#video-"+vid).show();
}
function kalturaPlayerAPIReady(code, playDiv,pvid){
var dt=new Date;
var nt=dt.getTime();
var vtitle = "";
var video_id_arr = code.split("https://zeenews.india.com/");
var youbora_video_id = video_id_arr[5].split(".");
var youbora_video_id = '"' + youbora_video_id[0] + '"';
pre_roll = "https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640x480&iu=/11440465/Zeenews_English_Video/Zeenews_English_Preroll&tfcd=0&npa=0&sz=640x480&gdfp_req=1&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&env=vp&impl=s&description_url="+vtitle+"&correlator="+nt;
var sources ={};
var config = {
targetId: playDiv,
provider: {
partnerId: 2504201
},
playback: {
pictureInPicture : true,
autoplay: true
},
advertising: {
adBreaks: [{
position: 0,
ads: [{
url: [pre_roll]
}]
}]
},
plugins: {
youbora: {
options: {
"content.title": "Existing Covid vaccines enough for Omicron? Here's what Dr Anthony Fauci has to say",
"content.customDimension.1":"Zee News",
"content.customDimension.2":"https://zeenews.india.com/",
"content.customDimension.3":"2021-Dec-16 20:17:24",
"content.customDimension.4":"Rohit Vats",
"content.customDimension.5":"2420009",
"content.customDimension.6":"India,COVID 19,South Africa,Vaccine,Coronavirus,Omicron,Dr Anthony Fauci",
"content.id":youbora_video_id,
"content.language":"English"
}
},
ima: {
adsResponse: ""
}
}
}
var kalturaPlayer = KalturaPlayer.setup(config);
if(kalturaPlayer){
kalturaPlayer.reset();
}
var videoUrl = code;
var mediaid = '"zn' + pvid + '"';
sources = {
hls: [{
id: mediaid,
url: videoUrl,
mimetype: "application/x-mpegURL"
}]
}
kalturaplayerSetup(kalturaPlayer, sources);
if (typeof kalturaPlayer !== 'undefined') {
doRegisterEvents(kalturaPlayer);
}
}
function kalturaplayerSetup(kalturaPlayer, playbackType){
kalturaPlayer.setMedia({
plugins: {},
sources: playbackType
});
}
function doRegisterEvents(kalturaPlayer) {
/* player event*/
kalturaPlayer.addEventListener(kalturaPlayer.Event.Core.PLAY, playEvent);
kalturaPlayer.addEventListener(kalturaPlayer.Event.Core.PAUSE, pauseEvent);
kalturaPlayer.addEventListener(kalturaPlayer.Event.Core.PLAYBACK_ENDED, playbackEndedEvent);
/* ad event */
kalturaPlayer.addEventListener(kalturaPlayer.Event.AD_STARTED, adStartedEvent);
kalturaPlayer.addEventListener(kalturaPlayer.Event.AD_COMPLETED, adCompletedEvent);
kalturaPlayer.addEventListener(kalturaPlayer.Event.AD_SKIPPED, adSkippedEvent);
kalturaPlayer.addEventListener(kalturaPlayer.Event.AD_CLICKED,adClicked);
}
var vlabel = "https://zeenews.india.com"+$(this).attr("video-path");
var isVideoPlayed = false;
var isAdSkippedCompleted = false;
function adStartedEvent(event) {
var videotype = "zee english video";
gtag('event', 'Adstarted', { 'event_category': videotype, 'event_label': vlabel});
gtag('event', 'Play', { 'event_category': videotype, 'event_label': vlabel});
isVideoPlayed = true;
isAdSkippedCompleted = true;
}
function adCompletedEvent(event) {
var videotype = "zee english video";
gtag('event', 'Adcompleted', { 'event_category': videotype, 'event_label': vlabel});
isAdSkippedCompleted = true;
}
function adSkippedEvent(event) {
var videotype = "zee english video";
gtag('event', 'Adskipped', { 'event_category': videotype, 'event_label': vlabel});
isAdSkippedCompleted = true;
}
function adClicked(event) {
var videotype = "zee english video";
gtag('event', 'Adclicked', { 'event_category': videotype, 'event_label': vlabel});
}
function playbackEndedEvent(event){
var videotype = "zee english video";
gtag('event', 'Complete', { 'event_category': videotype, 'event_label': vlabel});
}
function playEvent(event) {
var videotype = "zee english video";
if((isVideoPlayed) && (isAdSkippedCompleted)){
isAdSkippedCompleted = false;
}else if((isVideoPlayed)){
gtag('event', 'resume', { 'event_category': videotype, 'event_label': vlabel});
}else{
gtag('event', 'Play', { 'event_category': videotype, 'event_label': vlabel});
isVideoPlayed = true;
}
}
function pauseEvent(event) {
var videotype = "zee english video";
gtag('event', 'Pause', { 'event_category': videotype, 'event_label': vlabel});
}
function AdloadEvent(event) {
var videotype = "zee english video";
gtag("event", "kaltura_adloaded", { "event_category": videotype, "event_label": vlabel});
}
function AdProgressEvent(event) {
var videotype = "zee english video";
gtag("event", "kaltura_adprogress", { "event_category": videotype, "event_label": vlabel});
}
function adPausedEvent(event) {
var videotype = "zee english video";
gtag("event", "kaltura_adpaused", { "event_category": videotype, "event_label": vlabel});
}
/* End of Kaltura player function code */
$(document).delegate("div[id^='play']", "click", function(){
//console.log($(this).attr("id"));
//console.log($(this).attr("video-source"));
//console.log($(this).attr("video-code"));
var isyoutube = $(this).attr("video-source");
var vurl = $(this).attr("video-path");
var vid = $(this).attr("id");
$(this).hide();
var pvid = $(this).attr("newsid");
var vx = $(this).attr("id").replace('play-','');
var vC = $(this).attr("video-code");
var playDiv = "video-" + vid + "-" + pvid;
if(isyoutube =='No'){
kalturaPlayerAPIReady(vC, playDiv,pvid);
}else{
onYouTubePlay(vid, vC, playDiv,vx, pvid);
}
});
$(document).delegate("div[id^='ptop']", "click", function(){
var vid = $(this).attr("id").replace('ptop','');
$(this).hide();
var pvid = $(this).attr("newsid");
var vurl = $(this).attr("video-path");
//console.log($(this).attr("id") + "--" + vid);
//console.log($(this).parent().children().find('#play-'+vid).attr("video-source"));
//console.log($(this).parent().children().find('#play-'+vid).attr("video-code"));
var isyoutube = $(this).parent().children().find('#play-'+vid).attr("video-source");
var vC = $(this).parent().children().find('#play-'+vid).attr("video-code");
var playDiv = "mvideo-play-" + vid + "-" + pvid;
if(isyoutube =='No'){
//console.log(jwplayer($(this).attr("id")).getState());
kalturaPlayerAPIReady(vC, playDiv,pvid);
}else{
onYouTubePlay($(this).attr("id"), vC, playDiv, vid, pvid);
}
});
var nxti = 3;
var ci = 1;
var nxti_1 = 6;
var nxti_2 = 9;
var nxti_3 = 12;
if($.autopager==false){
var use_ajax = false;
/*var disqus_shortname="zeehindi";
var disqus_identifier; //made of post id and guid
var disqus_url; //post permalink
function loadDisqus(source, identifier, url, nid) {
if (window.DISQUS) {
//alert("if");
jQuery('
').insertAfter(source);
jQuery('#disqus_thread').insertAfter(source); //append the HTML after the link
//if Disqus exists, call it's reset method with new parameters
DISQUS.reset({
reload: true,
config: function () {
this.page.identifier = identifier;
this.page.url = url;
}
});
}else{
jQuery('
').insertAfter(source);
disqus_identifier = identifier; //set the identifier argument
disqus_url = url; //set the permalink argument
//append the Disqus embed script to HTML
var dsq = document.createElement('script'); dsq.type="text/javascript"; dsq.async = true;
dsq.src="http://" + disqus_shortname + '.disqus.com/embed.js';
jQuery('head').append(dsq);
}
};*/
/*$('.disqusOn').live( "click", notify );
function notify() {
identifier = $(this).attr('id');
dUrl = $(this).attr('disqus-url');
source = $(this).parent();
loadDisqus(jQuery(this), identifier, dUrl);
}*/
function loadshare(curl){
history.replaceState('' ,'', curl);
if(window.OBR){
window.OBR.extern.researchWidget();
}
//console.log("loadshare Call->" + curl);
//$('html head').find('title').text("main" + nxtTitle);
if(_up == false){
var cu_url = curl;
gtag('config', 'UA-2069755-1', {'page_path': cu_url });
if(window.COMSCORE){
window.COMSCORE.beacon({c1: "2", c2: "9254297"});
var e = Date.now();
$.ajax({
url: "/marathi/news/zscorecard.json?" + e,
success: function(e) {}
})
}
//console.log('ga:'+r);
/*(function () {
var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type="text/javascript"; ga.async = true;
ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://' : 'http://') + 'stats.g.doubleclick.net/dc.js';
var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s);
})();*/
//console.log("loadshare Call");
}
}
if(use_ajax==false) {
//console.log('getting');
var view_selector="div.center-section"; // + settings.view_name; + '.view-display-id-' + settings.display;
var content_selector = view_selector; // + settings.content_selector;
var items_selector = content_selector + ' > div.rep-block'; // + settings.items_selector;
var pager_selector="div.next-story-block > div.view-zn-article-mc-all-2017 > div.view-content > div.clearfix"; // + settings.pager_selector;
var next_selector="div.next-story-block > div.view-zn-article-mc-all-2017 > div.view-content > div.clearfix > a:last"; // + settings.next_selector;
var auto_selector="div.tag-block";
var img_location = view_selector + ' > div.rep-block:last';
var img_path="
"; //settings.img_path;
//var img = '
' + img_path + '
';
var img = img_path;
//$(pager_selector).hide();
//alert($(next_selector).attr('href'));
var x = 0;
var url="";
var prevLoc = window.location.pathname;
var circle = "";
var myTimer = "";
var interval = 30;
var angle = 0;
var Inverval = "";
var angle_increment = 6;
var handle = $.autopager({
appendTo: content_selector,
content: items_selector,
runscroll: maindiv,
link: next_selector,
autoLoad: false,
page: 0,
start: function(){
$(img_location).after(img);
circle = $('.center-section').find('#green-halo');
myTimer = $('.center-section').find('#myTimer');
angle = 0;
Inverval = setInterval(function (){
$(circle).attr("stroke-dasharray", angle + ", 20000");
//myTimer.innerHTML = parseInt(angle/360*100) + '%';
if (angle >= 360) {
angle = 1;
}
angle += angle_increment;
}.bind(this),interval);
},
load: function(){
$('div.loading-block').remove();
clearInterval(Inverval);
//$('.repeat-block > .row > div.main-rhs2420009').find('div.rhs2420009:first').clone().appendTo('.repeat-block >.row > div.main-rhs' + x);
$('div.rep-block > div.main-rhs2420009 > div:first').clone().appendTo('div.rep-block > div.main-rhs' + x);
$('.center-section >.row:last').before('
Next Story
');
//$(".main-rhs" + x).theiaStickySidebar();
var fb_script=document.createElement('script');
fb_script.text= "(function(d, s, id) {var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if (d.getElementById(id)) return;js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id;js.src="https://connect.facebook.net/en_GB/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.9";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));";
var fmain = $(".sr"+ x);
//alert(x+ "-" + url);
var fdiv = '
';
//$(fb_script).appendTo(fmain);
$(fdiv).appendTo(fmain);
FB.XFBML.parse();
var $dfpAd = $('.center-section').children().find("#ad-"+ x);
xp = "#star"+x;
//var $dfpAdrhs = $('.main-rhs' + x).children().find('.adATF').empty().attr("id", "ad-300-" + x); //$('.content-area > .main-article > .row > .main-rhs'+x).find('#ad-300-' + x);
//var $dfpAdrhs2 = $('.main-rhs' + x).children().find('.adBTF').empty().attr("id", "ad-300-2-" + x);//$('.content-area > .main-article > .row > .main-rhs'+x).find('#ad-300-2-' + x);
//var $dfpMiddleAd = $('.content-area > .main-article > .row').find('#ar'+x).find('#ad-middle-' + x).empty();
//fillElementWithAd($dfpAdrhs, '/11440465/Zeenews_English_Web/Zeenews_English_AS_ATF_300x250', [[300, 250], [300, 600]], {});
//fillElementWithAd($dfpAdrhs2, '/11440465/Zeenews_English_Web/Zeenews_English_AS_BTF_1_300x250', [300, 250], {});
//fillElementWithAd($dfpMiddleAd, '/11440465/Zeenews_Hindi_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF', [300, 250], {});
var instagram_script=document.createElement('script');
instagram_script.defer="defer";
instagram_script.async="async";
instagram_script.src="https://platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js";
/*var outbrain_script=document.createElement('script');
outbrain_script.type="text/javascript";
outbrain_script.async="async";
outbrain_script.src="https://widgets.outbrain.com/outbrain.js";
var Omain = $("#outbrain-"+ x);
//alert(Omain + "--" + $(Omain).length);
$(Omain).after(outbrain_script);
var rhs = $('.main-article > .row > div.article-right-part > div.rhs2420009:first').clone();
$(rhs).find('.ad-one').attr("id", "ad-300-" + x).empty();
$(rhs).find('.ad-two').attr("id", "ad-300-2-" + x).empty();
//$('.main-article > .row > div.article-right-part > div.rhs2420009:first').clone().appendTo('.main-article > .row > div.main-rhs' + x);
$(rhs).appendTo('.main-article > .row > div.main-rhs' + x); */
setTimeout(function(){
var twit = $("div.field-name-body").find('blockquote[class^="twitter"]').length;
var insta = $("div.field-name-body").find('blockquote[class^="instagram"]').length;
if(twit==0){twit = ($("div.field-name-body").find('twitterwidget[class^="twitter"]').length);}
if(twit>0){
if (typeof (twttr) != 'undefined') {
twttr.widgets.load();
} else {
$.getScript('https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js');
}
//$(twit).addClass('tfmargin');
}
if(insta>0){
$('.content > .left-block:last').after(instagram_script);
//$(insta).addClass('tfmargin');
window.instgrm.Embeds.process();
}
}, 1500);
}
});
/*$("#loadmore").click(function(){
x=$(next_selector).attr('id');
var url = $(next_selector).attr('href');
disqus_identifier="ZNH" + x;
disqus_url = url;
handle.autopager('load');
history.pushState('' ,'', url);
setTimeout(function(){
//twttr.widgets.load();
//loadDisqus(jQuery(this), disqus_identifier, disqus_url);
}, 6000);
});*/
/*$("button[id^='mf']").live("click", disqusToggle);
function disqusToggle() {
console.log("Main id: " + $(this).attr('id'));
}*/
$(document).delegate("button[id^='mf']", "click", function(){
fbcontainer="";
fbid = '#' + $(this).attr('id');
var sr = fbid.replace("#mf", ".sr");
//console.log("Main id: " + $(this).attr('id') + "Goodbye!jQuery 1.4.3+" + sr);
$(fbid).parent().children(sr).toggle();
fbcontainer = $(fbid).parent().children(sr).children(".fb-comments").attr("id");
//console.log(fbcontainer);
//var commentsContainer = document.getElementById(fbcontainer);
//commentsContainer.innerHTML = '
';
});
/************Player Code ***********/
var title, imageUrl, description, author, shortName, identifier, timestamp, summary, newsID, nextnews;
var previousScroll = 0;
//console.log("prevLoc" + prevLoc);
$(window).scroll(function(){
var last = $(auto_selector).filter(':last');
var lastHeight = last.offset().top ;
//st = $(layout).scrollTop();
//console.log("st:" + st);
var currentScroll = $(this).scrollTop();
if (currentScroll > previousScroll){
_up = false;
} else {
_up = true;
}
previousScroll = currentScroll;
//console.log("_up" + _up);
var cutoff = $(window).scrollTop() + 64;
//console.log(cutoff + "**");
$('div[id^="row"]').each(function(){
//console.log("article" + $(this).children().find('.left-block').attr("id") + $(this).children().find('.left-block').attr('data-url'));
if($(this).offset().top + $(this).height() > cutoff){
//console.log("$$" + $(this).children().find('.left-block').attr('data-url'));
if(prevLoc != $(this).children().find('.left-block').attr('data-url')){
prevLoc = $(this).children().find('.left-block').attr('data-url');
$('html head').find('title').text($(this).children().find('.left-block').attr('data-title'));
$('meta[name=description]').attr("content",$(this).children().find('.left-block').attr('data-summary'));
$('meta[name=keywords]').attr("content",$(this).children().find('.left-block').attr('data-keyword'));
$('meta[name=news_keywords]').attr("content",$(this).children().find('.left-block').attr('data-keyword'));
pSUPERFLY.virtualPage(prevLoc,$(this).children().find('.left-block').attr('data-title'));
//console.log("Summary: " + $(this).children().find('.left-block').attr('data-summary'));
//console.log("Keyword: " + $(this).children().find('.left-block').attr('data-keyword'));
//history.pushState('' ,'', prevLoc);
loadshare(prevLoc);
}
return false; // stops the iteration after the first one on screen
}
});
if(lastHeight + last.height() < $(document).scrollTop() + $(window).height()){
//console.log("**get");
url = $(next_selector).attr('href');
x=$(next_selector).attr('id');
//console.log("x:" + x);
//handle.autopager('load');
/*setTimeout(function(){
//twttr.widgets.load();
//loadDisqus(jQuery(this), disqus_identifier, disqus_url);
}, 6000);*/
}
//lastoff = last.offset();
//console.log("**" + lastoff + "**");
});
//$( ".content-area" ).click(function(event) {
// console.log(event.target.nodeName);
//});
/*$( ".comment-button" ).live("click", disqusToggle);
function disqusToggle() {
var id = $(this).attr("id");
$("#disqus_thread1" + id).toggle();
};*/
//$(".main-rhs2420009").theiaStickySidebar();
var prev_content_height = $(content_selector).height();
//$(function() {
var layout = $(content_selector);
var st = 0;
///});
}
}
});
/*}
};*/
})(jQuery);
,