WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 5: Scott Gottlieb testified during a hearing on the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions on April 5, 2017 at Capitol Hill in Washington, DC (Photo by Zach Gibson / Getty Images)
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UPDATED 17:55 PT – Sunday, January 31, 2021
Former FDA chief Scott Gottlieb said COVID-19 vaccines should be enough to slow the spread of new variants.
In an interview on Sunday, Gottlieb said that vaccines are the best stop against Brazilian and South African variants, as Americans continue to be immunized.
We have time to understand this. But we have no time to waste. Current vaccines will be an important backstop for the continued spread and will help reduce the introduction of new variants. Until the fall, we could have boosters to target the changes we see with those mutants.
– Scott Gottlieb, MD (@ScottGottliebMD) January 29, 2021
The former Trump administration official said health officials should look for hotspot areas, especially Miami and San Diego. However, Gottlieb is confident that health experts know how to deal with the coronavirus pandemic.
“It simply came to our notice then. Previous immunity and vaccines appear to be just as effective against this new variant. So as we immunize more people and if people continue to wear masks and be vigilant in these parts of the country, we can keep this at bay, ”Gottlieb said. “It’s not too late, but it’s a real risk for those regions of the country right now.”
Gottlieb urged Americans not to take a break from the fight while fighting the virus and to remain vigilant to social distancing standards.