Dr. Anthony Fauci warned on Sunday that new data suggests the strain of COVID-19 that first showed up in the UK could be more deadly.
“We now have to assume that what’s circulating in the UK has an increase in virulence, which means that the virus can do more damage, including death,” says Fauci told CBS anchor Margaret Brennan about “Face the Nation.”
Fauci said British officials initially indicated that the new variant was no more lethal, but have now changed course after a study that suggested it was about 30 percent more deadly in older adults.
The average death rate among 60-year-olds in the UK was about 10 per 10,000.
But with the new species, there were about 13 or 14 deaths in the same population, USA Today reported.
“We want to view the data ourselves, but we have every reason to believe it. They are a very capable group, ”Fauci said.
The British strain has been confirmed in at least 22 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Fauci said the available COVID-19 vaccines still appear to be effective against the variant, although he admits there may be a “very small reduction” in protection.
“The cushion you have for the efficacy is so great that it won’t have a negative impact,” Fauci said.
But he said it’s a “little bit more concerning” when it comes to another new strain first discovered in South Africa – which appears to be more resistant to the vaccine.
“It appears that it decreases the vaccine efficacy even more, but we are still within that cushion level of the vaccines that are beneficial against these mutants,” Fauci said.
“That said, we are going to look at this and monitor this very carefully as these things evolve. What we will do and do is prepare for the possibility that … over time we will have to adapt and upgrade the vaccines, ”he added.