people as possible with the three doses, which is proven to work even for the inactivated vaccine in study by the university of hong kong, and they have learned from the hong kong experience. so just to be clear here, doctor, you re saying that even with the efficacy of their vaccines, the chinese vaccines, if they started on a mass vaccination program for those third shots and possibly even fourth shots, that they could see a way out of this? indeed, yes. as shown by the study at university of hong kong, with three doses of the inactivated vaccine, the protection against severe disease and death is more than 90%. so if everyone can have, like, three doses, especially for the elderly, then, you know, they will be very safe. and then hopefully by, you know, within six months, they will have the second-generation omicron mass vaccine available as a fourth dose booster. the solution you re talking about, though, does not do anything especially for those
due to covid issues and schools like harvard university moving graduate and professional schools to online classes for the first three weeks of january. covid striking governor larry hogan and members of congress with elizabeth warren, new jersey senator corey booker, and colorado congressman jason crow, all testing positive for the virus. health workers and government officials increasingly focused on boosters. we see those a are vaccinated, who have received their booster, aren t coming in at the same rates. reporter: moderna showing that its half dose booster shot increased antibody levels against omicron, noticing a larger size dose helped even more. right now, you need that third dose. i wish we on stop calling it a booster. it s a three-dose vaccine. reporter: basic mitigation measures like mask kg help slow
vaccination. and we know vaccination helps address omicron. reporter: still undecided on whether crowds will fill times square for new year s eve. as covid infections have upended the worlds of sports and entertainment forcing saturday night live to cancel its live audience. the nba, nhl also postponing games and schools like harvard university moving graduate and professional schools to online classes for the first three weeks of january. health workers and government officials increasingly focused on boosters. we see those who are vaccinated, those who received their booster, aren t coming into the hospital at the same rates. reporter: moderna today announcing preliminary data shows its half dose booster shot increased antibody levels against omicron. noting that a larger size dose raised them even more. the company says it s working on variant specific boosters as well. right now, you need that third dose. i wish we d stop calling it a
spreading full fledged on the shores of the united states. that was a big part of it being approved for the younger age groups at this time. the ceo of pfizer said in light of concerns about omicron a fourth dose of the covid vaccine may eventually be needed. only about 27% of adults have gotten the third shot, the booster. when and why would a fourth dose be necessary? i can hear people saying, oh, my gosh, another one? i think that is a totally natural reaction. i want to see some independent, scientific data before we start talking about more doses. it has taken a while to even get the third dose in even the most vulnerable folks. there is data showing many nursing home residents still have not gotten their third dose booster. that is the group for whom boosters are most needed. as always, i try to emphasize doing the thing with the biggest public health impact.
scientific data before we start talking about more doses. you know, it s taken us a while, as you say, to even get this third dose in even the most vulnerable folks. there s data showing that many nursing home residents still have not gotten their third dose booster. that s the group for whom boosters are most needed. as always, i try to emphasize doing the thing with the biggest public health impact. it s getting that first and second dose of vaccine, that primary series, and now the booster for those vulnerable folks. it is far too early to talk about a fourth dose at this point. i think it s just speculation on pfizer s part. according to a survey by the kaiser family foundation, most parents are still worried about the safety of covid vaccines for kids and about 3 in 10 parents say that they will definitely not vaccinate their children. what do you say to those reluctant parents? my first thing is i ve gotten both of my own kids vaccinated. both my 10-year-old and my almost 13-