The top infectious disease official has escalated his warnings about the threat of virus mutation
Top infectious disease official Dr. Anthony Fauci on Thursday highlighted the importance of the U.S. quickly gaining control of the delta variant, warning continued community spread could lead to even more dangerous mutations of Covid-19, including those capable of evading the protection of vaccines.... [+]
to receive his first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at the National Institutes of Health on December 22, 2020 in Bethesda, Maryland.“That will happen, George, if we don’t get good control over the community spread,” Fauci told “Good Morning America” anchor George Stephanopoulos during a Thursday interview on ABC News. now—gives it “ample opportunity to mutate,” explained President Biden’s top medical advisor.
“You may sooner or later get another variant, and it is possible that that variant might be in some respects worse than the already difficult variant we’re dealing with now,” Fauci said, referencing the delta variant, which experts say is significantly more infectious than other coronavirus strains. He also emphasized that the virus can mutate regardless of whether people contracting the virus get symptoms.
Vaccines may be effective at preventing serious disease and death with Covid-19’s current mutations, but this may not necessarily be true with future evolutions, Fauci emphasized. “People who say, ‘I don’t want to get vaccinated because it’s me and I’ll worry about me, I’m not having any impact on anybody else,’ that’s just not the case,” Fauci said. Thursday morning its Covid-19 shot is about 93% effective through six months after the second dose.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Fauci: If community spread doesn't get under control, US 'may sooner or later get another variant'Dr. Fauci: If community spread doesn’t get under control, U.S. “may sooner or later get another variant.”
Read more »
Fauci: If community spread doesn't get under control, US 'may sooner or later get another variant'If the U.S. does not get control over the community spread of the delta COVID variant, the nation will continue to see more variants that evade the protection of the vaccines, according to Dr. Anthony Fauci, the chief medical adviser to the White House. 'That will happen, George, if we don't get good control over the community spread which is the reason why I and my colleagues keep saying and over again, it is very important to get as many people vaccinated as we possibly can,' Fauci told anchor 'GMA' George Stephanopoulos Thursday. 'People who say, 'I don't want to get vaccinated because it's me and I'll worry about me, I'm not having any impact on anybody else,' that's just not the case,' Fauci said.
Read more »
Moderna says its Covid vaccine booster produced ‘robust’ immune response against deltaModerna said its Covid-19 vaccine booster shot produced a 'robust' antibody response against the highly contagious delta variant.
Read more »
'We're recommending everybody wear masks right now': CDC calls for school masks regardless of vaccination statusSome officials blame the need for masks on the highly-transmissible Delta variant, vaccine hesitancy and a limited share of vaccinated K-12 students.
Read more »
More Kids Are Getting Sick With COVID-19, Top Pediatrics Group FindsInfections rose nearly 85% last week from the week before as the delta variant spreads.
Read more »