The next is a transcript of an interview with Dr. Scott Gottlieb that aired Sunday, February 13, 2022, on "Face the Nation."
MARGARET BRENNAN: We go now to former FDA commissioner and Pfizer board member Dr. Scott Gottlieb. Physician, I've to say there was a number of whiplash this week with the FDA and the Pfizer determination to hit the brakes on this vaccine for toddlers, for kids ages 4 and youthful. Now we've to attend till April for a call. What occurred?
DR. SCOTT GOTTLIEB: Yeah, there have been no new questions of safety popping out of the info set, the difficulty right here is the power for the FDA and for Pfizer to obviously outline the extent of efficacy that the vaccine is delivering. And what you might have is a scenario the place the info units persevering with to evolve as a result of we're nonetheless in the course of this Omicron wave of an infection, there nonetheless impact infections accruing on the sufferers within the scientific trial, each the sufferers who've been vaccinated and the sufferers who've been unvaccinated. And so, the info set is altering. And there was further information that was submitted to the FDA late final week, on Thursday and Friday that modified the FDA's notion of absolutely the efficacy of the vaccine. And given the truth that that's altering, that is evolving. New information is accruing. It is laborious for the FDA to offer its advisers a hard and fast snapshot of what absolutely the efficacy is of this scientific trial, of the info set. And so, in the event that they wait a little bit longer, in the event that they administer the third dose in that scientific trial, they are not solely going to have maybe a greater measure of effectiveness from this trial, however they're going to even have a settled information set. They will have a really agency image of what- what stage of effectiveness the vaccine is delivering, and that is essential for sufferers and pediatricians to have the ability to make totally knowledgeable selections as a result of it is essential to know that the vaccine is secure. Nevertheless it's additionally essential to know what the extent of effectiveness that is delivering as nicely.
MARGARET BRENNAN: It is whiplash within the meantime, as dad and mom proceed to attend. After which we additionally see, you recognize, in some areas of the nation, like New Jersey, states lifting their masks necessities in faculties. So ought to dad and mom of kids underneath the age of 5 preserve their youngsters back- preserve their youngsters masks in class?
DR. GOTTLIEB: Look, I feel there's parts of the inhabitants which might be going to be in a really troublesome spot proper now as a result of they continue to be susceptible, one portion of the inhabitants are younger kids, dad and mom who work who're susceptible to bringing the an infection again into the house with a toddler who's unvaccinated. Additionally, people who find themselves older, who've comorbid circumstances that put them susceptible to COVID will proceed to be susceptible. However we're clearly shifting from a compact the place there was a shared sense of sacrifice throughout the inhabitants typically to take sure measures to take sure mitigation, like carrying masks, like defending congregate settings in direction of one the place policymakers are clearly shifting the burden onto people to attempt to shield themselves primarily based on their very own measure of their danger and the danger of their setting. It is incumbent upon policymakers to offer folks the instruments to try this, however there are pockets of society that do not have these instruments, like younger kids do not have vaccines, so dad and mom are in a troublesome spot. They'll proceed to have to stay vigilant in the event that they're involved in regards to the danger of an infection, these younger kids. However that is clearly a pattern proper now throughout the nation.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Walmart, world's largest retailer, I imply, they set the tone for lots of company America. They've determined to elevate the masks mandate for vaccinated staff. You have got this wave of Democratic governors, as you predicted lifting masks mandates. However the CDC and the president say it's too early. Is that this simply one other spherical of the CDC being too sluggish or is everybody else shifting too quick?
DR. GOTTLIEB: Effectively, the CDC is setting a nationwide commonplace and there is nonetheless elements of the nation which have a number of Omicron an infection, not each a part of the nation is thru this wave of the epidemic. Clearly, the Northeast is the mid-Atlantic, the place instances are 20 instances per hundred thousand folks per day. However while you take a look at states like Kentucky, West Virginia, Tennessee, Missouri, they're at about 100 instances, or Mississippi, there are about 100 instances per hundred thousand folks per day. That is a fairly dense epidemic. So the CDC has a tough time setting a nationwide commonplace throughout a really numerous expertise with this- this virus. I feel what you are going to see the CDC do, although, is come out with steerage that is extra particular to communities. That is primarily based on what the native prevalence is, and that is in all probability the place they need to have been all alongside. I feel they are going to make that adaptation as a result of there clearly are elements of the nation the place prevalence is low sufficient now and heading in a optimistic course if they'll begin lifting this mitigation.
MARGARET BRENNAN: One different query earlier than I allow you to go, you tweeted this week that it is laborious to imagine in the course of the worst public well being disaster in trendy instances. Democrats are letting twist within the wind, their celebration's nominee for FDA chief. Why, greater than a yr into the administration will we not have a confirmed FDA commissioner?
DR. GOTTLIEB: Effectively, look, I am hoping Rob Califf, Dr. Rob Califf, might be confirmed this week goes to go earlier than the Senate. I feel he is an impressive selection for the company beforehand held that job, and I inherited the FDA from his management, so a number of his insurance policies and his workforce was what I inherited after I took over the company. , there's completely different political explanation why senators have made a problem of his affirmation. One in every of them is the difficulty of opioids, which he is been very robust on advancing insurance policies to assist take care of the opioid epidemic.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So nicely, it feels like he has your endorsement there. Dr. Gottlieb, I've to depart it there and hit this break. Thanks a lot.