The next is a transcript of an interview with Dr. Scott Gottlieb that aired Sunday, January 30, 2022, on "Face the Nation."
MARGARET BRENNAN: We go now to former FDA commissioner and Pfizer board member Dr. Scott Gottlieb, who made it out of the snowstorm in Connecticut and down right here to Washington, D.C. this morning. That's dedication, physician. Thanks.
DR. SCOTT GOTTLIEB: Thanks.
MARGARET BRENNAN: There's a new variant of concern BA2. The CDC says it is already right here in the US. How involved can we should be?
DR. SCOTT GOTTLIEB: , the query is, does this modification the choice area? I do not suppose it does. I do not suppose it actually adjustments the narrative. It possibly, maybe extends the tail on the decline that we're seeing throughout the nation. There's some vital questions. Is it extra contagious? It seems to be extra contagious. Information out of Denmark from the Serum Institute suggests it is about 1.5 occasions extra contagious than the pressure of Omicron that has made it across the US–
MARGARET BRENNAN: which is already so transmissible.
DR. GOTTLIEB: Precisely. Does it evade our immune system? Does it evade the immunity that we have acquired from Omicron an infection or the vaccines? Many of the proof up to now, it is preliminary, suggests it does. And actually, there's knowledge out of the U.Okay. that means that a absolutely boosted individual could also be extra protected towards this new variant than they have been towards the unique pressure of Omicron. After which the ultimate query is, is it extra virulent? Is it extra harmful? And up to now, primarily based on what we have seen out of Denmark and the U.Okay., that are accumulating superb knowledge on this, it would not look like a extra virulent pressure.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So in the event you had Omicron, are you able to be reinfected with this model?
DR. GOTTLIEB: You have to be protected. So the mutations on this new model usually are not within the receptor binding area on the spike protein. That is the portion of the spike protein that we develop our greatest antibodies towards that neutralize the virus. Many of the mutations are in a separate a part of the spike protein known as the N-terminal area. So in the event you had Omicron an infection, it is best to have safety towards subsequent an infection from this new variant. That is why I do not suppose that is going to create an enormous wave of an infection. What's prone to occur is as we have been coming down, and coming down fairly sharply in components of the Northeast, Florida, the mid-Atlantic, you would possibly see as this new pressure begins to choose up, you would possibly see that we begin to decelerate in that decline, however the decline will occur nonetheless. Proper now, it represents in all probability about 5 % of infections within the US, and now we have a lot Omicron immunity that is in all probability going to be a backstop towards this actually taking off.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, you already know, we have talked about it there each time that there's an an infection, these youngster care facilities should shut down. That creates sensible issues for folks who wish to exit and take part within the financial system. They wish to present up for work. I imply, this can be a drag for the nation. The CDC issued new steerage to youngster care facilities. It really helpful toddlers stay masked. It lowered the advice for isolation post-infection to about 5 days. Is that this prudent? Is that this good well being coverage together with financial coverage?
DR. GOTTLIEB: Look, I believe they're doing all they'll do, however the steerage actually focuses on attempting to forestall unfold inside the daycare middle. I believe we have to focus a bit bit extra consideration on attempting to forestall introduction into these settings, as a result of when you get an an infection in that setting it is laborious to regulate. , you have obtained youngsters who do not put on masks very effectively. I believe it is laborious to ask a two or three 12 months previous to put on a masks. Even in the event you preserve them in social pods, they'll play collectively, so it is laborious to regulate transmission inside that setting. I believe we must be focusing extra on attempting to maintain the an infection out within the first place.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Effectively, however to that time, and you already know, as a result of I ask you nearly each week as a result of my very own youngsters cannot get vaccinated, that that is simply going to proceed to be a danger proper till the youngest kids, 4 and underneath can get a vaccine. So this portion of the puzzle, and if a vaccine is greenlit for the youngest Individuals, does it unlock every part else? Does this begin to transfer us again to regular?
DR. GOTTLIEB: I do not suppose it unlocks every part else for a few causes. Primary, loads of- we're seeing a number of dad and mom with younger youngsters don't get their youngsters vaccinated. Solely about 25 % of children 5 to 11 have been vaccinated. It has been very disappointing. About 18 % have been absolutely vaccinated. So I believe that there is going to be some hesitation with the youngest youngsters as effectively. We will not absolutely clarify it. Additionally, whereas the vaccines stop an infection, so a totally boosted grownup has in all probability a 50 % decrease probability of getting contaminated within the first place with that vaccine. They don't seem to be- They don't seem to be 90 % protecting and possibly within the youthful youngsters, they'll be rather less protecting towards an infection. So you are still going to see youngsters be capable to get contaminated even when they're vaccinated. What the vaccine goes to do is shield them from unhealthy outcomes. And we have seen a number of unhealthy outcomes with youngsters. There may be some indication in the event you hearken to federal well being officers that they could be rethinking the vaccine in zero- in six months to 4 years previous. And I am hopeful that you may see some motion on attempting to entertain that utility earlier. In the end, the choice resides with FDA, however there may be some indication that there could also be an early response on that utility.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Dr. Fauci mentioned this week the best- that it will be a 3 dose routine for the youngest. You mentioned finest case could be March. Are you sticking with that?
DR. GOTTLIEB: Effectively, look, if the- if federal well being officers within the company determine to authorize this on the premise of two doses, it could possibly be out a lot sooner. And I believe the choice matrix has modified across the vaccine for six months to 4 12 months olds. And as far as we all know that the vaccine is not as protecting at stopping an infection. Beforehand, we had knowledge exhibiting that the childhood vaccine for four- six months to 4 years wasn't as protecting towards an infection because the grownup vaccine. That is the explanation why they pushed it out and requested for that third dose, however now, if the objective of the vaccine is to get baseline immunity within the youngsters to forestall actually unhealthy outcomes, and also you're actually not utilizing the vaccine as a device to forestall an infection within the first place, two doses might try this. Getting two doses into a baby can present baseline immunity that protects them from extreme illness from hospitalization. And I believe that could be why federal well being officers are rethinking this if the truth is they determine to authorize this on the premise of two doses. It could possibly be out a lot sooner, maybe as early as early March.
MARGARET BRENNAN: That could possibly be a giant growth. We talked about there, our Mark Strassmann was reporting on San Francisco being the primary main metropolis to roll again its indoor masks mandate. Right here in D.C. that simply prolonged it to the top of February, a minimum of. Is there a transparent benchmark but for when well being measures must be lifted?
DR. GOTTLIEB: Yeah, that is going to be an actual problem. So proper now you have a look at a number of federal well being steerage, and it says that these measures must be lifted when there's low prevalence. The CDC defines low prevalence as 10 circumstances per 100,000 individuals per day. That was the previous measure within the age of Omicron, with a way more contagious variant and with the truth that the inhabitants has a number of immunity, so we're much less inclined total, we could have to rethink that. We could have to determine that after we get to twenty circumstances per 100,000 per day, that could be the purpose at which we begin to withdraw this stuff. I am not so positive we'll get to 10 anytime quickly. Proper now, Washington, D.C. is at 50, New York's at 75. With this new homegrown pressure that is circulating, we could stall out round 20, and that could be the purpose the place now we have to think about withdrawing a number of these measures.
MARGARET BRENNAN: OK, Dr. Gottlieb, thanks a lot.
DR. GOTTLIEB: Thanks loads. Good to see you.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Good to see you in individual. And FACE THE NATION might be again in a single minute.