EXCERPT:
TAPPER: "Let me turn to Covid now and these possible new booster shots. FDA advisers are recommending the vaccines be redesigned to target Omicron variants. Is that essential, and when can Americans expect to see these modified booster shots?"
GUPTA: "Yeah, this is a really interesting discussion. I think it's predicated on two basic things. One is I think most people airport there will be a surge of cases in the fall. Whether it gets cooler and drier, respiratory viruses tend to spread more easily. That's number one. Number two is that the existing vaccines are still really protective against severe disease, but we have been talking about the waning immunity overall with these new variants and sub-variants. So, I think that's what's really driving the thinking. There was a lots of enthusiasm. We'll see what the FDA says, but it's pretty clear some sort of booster that is specific to an Omicron subvariant is probably what's going to be recommended by the FDA.”