The former head of the FDA, Dr. Scott Gottlieb, warned that the new contagious mutation of Covid-19 found in the UK “is already in the US” as more than 40 countries ban travel to and from the UK for 48 hours or more.
“I don’t think the travel ban, at this point, will prevent this mutated strain from reaching the United States,” Gottlieb said. “We will have an epidemic that will continue to grow for the next three or four weeks, we will reach a maximum, and then we will start to see infection rates decline as we see vaccines develop.”
The new Covid-19 variant is forcing it to re-block parts of the UK. The government imposed stricter restrictions in London and other parts of the south-east of England and families can no longer gather during Christmas, as planned. In an interview with CNBC’s “The News with Shepard Smith” Monday evening, Gottlieb explained that the new mutation is likely the result of selective pressure on the virus itself.
“As the virus continues to spread around the world, we will begin to see more of these variants, which is why it is important to vaccinate the population and eliminate these infections,” Gottlieb said. “The more infections you have, the more chances these variants start to spread.”
Scientists in the UK suggested that the Covid variant means that the virus can be transmitted 50% more, although there are currently no indications that the disease will get worse. Both Eli Lilly and Regeneron, who manufacture the antibody drugs to treat Covid, said their drugs should be effective against the variant. According to Reuters, BioNTech chief executive Ugur Sahin said his company would investigate the mutation, but examined the situation with “a degree of sobriety”. BioNTech is Pfizer’s partner for the Covid vaccine. Gottlieb explained to host Shep Smith why he believes vaccines will eventually have to be adapted.
“The question is whether this virus will change surface proteins in a way that can prevent vaccines or previous immunity, and there are no indications that it will do so right now, but over time it will evolve in a way that it probably can. we avoid the previous infection or vaccines to some extent, so we will probably have to adapt our vaccines over time, ”Gottlieb said.
The first shipments of Moderna’s Covid vaccine have arrived today in hospitals across the United States. Moderna’s vaccine is the second, after Pfizer, authorized by the FDA. Moderna’s release is expected to be twice the size, as the company plans to ship six million doses this week compared to Pfizer’s 2.9 million doses last week. The Pfizer vaccine requires a temperature of minus 94 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 70 degrees Celsius. Modern can store its vaccine for up to six months at less than 4 degrees Fahrenheit.
Gottlieb said the current logistics for vaccine distribution is “good,” but that some challenges may come as the population getting the vaccine expands.
“I think the challenge will be the last mile, trying to distribute these vaccines to the community,” Gottlieb said. “Right now, in December, we are distributing these vaccines largely to health workers through medical institutions, academic hospitals, community hospitals, they know how to distribute a vaccine and they know how to find their health workers.”
Outreach: Scott Gottlieb is a CNBC contributor and board member of Pfizer, the start of Tempus genetic testing, and biotech company Illumina. Pfizer has a manufacturing agreement with Gilead to remdesivir. Gottlieb is also co-chair of Norway Cruise Line Holdings′ I Royal Caribbean“Healthy Candle Panel”.