WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 05: Scott Gottlieb testified at a Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee hearing on April 5, 2017 at Capitol Hill in Washington, DC (Photo by Zach Gibson / Getty Images)
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UPDATE 5:55 p.m. PT – Sunday, Jan. 31, 2021
Former FDA chief Scott Gottlieb said the COVID-19 vaccines should be enough to slow the spread of new variants.
In an interview on Sunday, Gottlieb claimed the vaccines are the best stopgap solution against the Brazilian and South African variants as Americans are still being immunized.
We have time to get this right. But we have no time to waste. Current vaccines will provide an important safety net for further spread and will help reduce the introduction of new variants. By fall, we could have boosters targeting the changes we see in those mutants.
– Scott Gottlieb, MD (@ScottGottliebMD) January 29, 2021
The former Trump administration official said health officials should look for hotspot areas, particularly Miami and San Diego. However, Gottlieb is convinced that health experts know how to deal with the coronavirus pandemic.
‘Now we know what works. Previous immunity and the vaccines appear to be equally effective against this new variant. So as we immunize more of the population, and if people continue to wear masks and be vigilant in these parts of the country, we can keep this at bay, ”said Gottlieb. “It’s not too late yet, but it’s a real risk for those regions of the country right now.”
Gottlieb urged Americans not to take their foot off the break while fighting the virus and to remain vigilant regarding social distance norms.