On Tuesday, President Joe Biden said that Americans can celebrate holidays safely if they are completely vaccinated. This is despite the fact that the omicron Covid variant quickly spreads throughout the U.S. creating uncertainty and threatening many people’s plans.

According to the president, although some fully vaccinated persons will develop breakthrough infections over the course of weeks they are safe from severe illness or death. He said that people who have been fully vaccinated and those who received boosters have high protection from hospitalization.

Biden stated that Covid could be in high numbers among fully-vaccinated individuals. There will be positive cases at every office. These cases, however, are unlikely to cause serious illnesses.

Biden cautioned that those who have not been vaccinated should be concerned about the omicron. Biden stated, “You are at high-risk of becoming sick. If you become sick, it’s likely that you spread it to family and friends.”

Biden warned that Omicron could be a serious, potentially fatal disease for people who have not been vaccinated. President Biden urged those who aren’t vaccinated not to wait.

“All these people people who have not be vaccinated, you have an obligation to yourselves, to your family and quite frankly – I know I’m going to get criticized for this – to your country. Biden stated that it was free to get vaccinated.

Biden stated that the U.S. has a better ability to combat the virus today than when it first struck. Biden stated, “This isn’t March 2020.” This was the month that Covid caused lockdowns across the country and an escalating number of deaths at epicenters such as New York City.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 61% of Americans are currently fully protected against Covid. Around 30% have had a booster shot. Biden stated that the U.S. has an inventory of masks, gloves, ventilators and gowns it can deploy in areas where they are needed.

Biden rebutted criticisms that the widespread shortage of home testing kits is a sign his administration didn’t prepare for an increase in holiday demand.

Biden stated that it was almost like everyone rushed to get at the counter. There was a huge rush. And I was aware of that, so I met with companies to try to meet them and get half a million more tests under the Defense Production Act. This would allow me to determine how I could get them home, to put them in the stores.

On Tuesday, the White House stated that 500 million U.S. Covid test kits will be purchased. However deliveries won’t begin until January. Many Americans who are seeking home testing prior to holiday travel and seeing their families find that the shelves of pharmacies have become empty. Additionally, there are many stories about long waiting lists for onsite testing.

Biden is taking steps to aid health care workers. This includes deploying 1000 military medical personnel in support of hospitals. Public health officials fear that a new wave of omicron-infected patients will put strain on many hospitals across the country. Unvaccinated patients with Covid are the majority who have been admitted to hospital or received in ICUs.

Biden asked again for people to be vaccinated in an effort to relieve the strain on the healthcare system. President Biden stated that Covid-19 patients admitted to hospital facilities “mean someone who has had a heart attack or cancer, and may not receive the life-saving care that they require in the hospital.”

Biden declared that “the unvaccinated” are accountable for their choices. However, these choices are fueled in part by misinformation from cable television and social media.

“It’s wrong. It’s immoral. I call on the purveyors of these lies and misinformation to stop it — stop it now,” Biden said.