vaccination now before it before it s going to move around the world. i think it s almost inevitable that there will be at some point that strain here in the united states, but i don t i don t think anyone is going to be reluctant to report. we have also moved to do more for example, we ve provided more vaccines, as i said, than all other countries in the world combined, and we ve brought significant vaccines as well to south africa and that reg op. as a matter of fact, south africa doesn t need anymore vaccine. they are having trouble getting it out into people s arms and the reluctance is there, but, no, i don t think it will have that effect. mr. president let me call on alexis. we ve got two alex. alex from reuters. thank you, so much, mr. president. i wanted to ask if the u.s. is doing anything to screen international travels for this variant, and what is being done,
people are protected first but vaccinating the world is just one more tool in how we need to meet our moral obligation as americans and how to best protect america s as well. the delta variant and now the omicron variant all emerged elsewhere in the world, and i can t let up until the world is vaccinated. we re protecting americans by doing that as well, and as we continue this effort let s remember where we stand. we re in a very different place as we enter the month of december this month compared to where we were last last september last christmas. last christmas fewer than 1% of american adults were vaccinated this. christmas the number will be over 71%, including more than 86% of seniors. last christmas our children were at risk without a vaccine. this christmas we have safe and effective vaccines for children ages 5 and older with more than
varrant i took immediate steps to restrict travel from countries in southern africa, but while we had that travel restrictions can slow the speed of omicron, it cannot prevent it, but here s what it does it. gives us time, gives us time to take more actions, to move quicker, to make sure people understand you have to get your vaccine. you have to get the shot. you have to get the booster. sooner or later we ll see cases of the new variant here in the united states. we ll have to face this new threat just so we face those who have come before it. today there are three messages about the new variant that i want the american people to hear. first, is this variant is a cause for concern, not a cause for panic. we have the best vaccine in the world, the best medicines, best scientists, and we re learning more every single day, and we ll fight this variant with scientific and and
with shutdowns or lockdowns, with more widespread vaccinations, boosters, testing and more. i promised every american that there will be always be the latest vaccines available and the booster shots available to them and for free and everywhere available. every single american free of charge, and i will keep that commitment, but we need to do more than vaccinate americans. to beat the pandemic, we have to vaccinate the world as well and america s leading that effort. we ve shipped for free more vaccines to other countries than all other countries in the world combined, over 275 million vaccines to 110 countries. now we need the rest of the world to step up as well. let me be clear. not a single vaccine shot americans ever sent to the rest of the world will ever come at the expense of any american. i will always make sure that our people are protected first.
opportunity to say get that vaccination now before it it s going to move around the world. i think it s almost inevitable that there will be at some point that strain here in the united states. but i don t i don t think anyone s going to be reluctant to report. we have also moved to do more. for example, we ve provided more vaccines, as i said, than all other countries in the world combined, and we ve provided significant vaccines as well to south africa and that region. as a matter of fact, south africa doesn t need any more vaccine. they re having trouble getting it out into people s arms, and the reluctance is there, i don t think. call on alexis. we ve got two. alex of reuters. thank you so much, mr. president. i wanted to ask if the u.s. is doing anything to screen international travelers for this variant, and what is being done,