Firing Line: Michael Osterholm

Epidemiologist Dr. Michael Osterholm predicts a new strain of COVID-19 that will affect the US. The variant, known as B117, comes from the United Kingdom and is currently in all fifty states. There are currently more than 1,000 cases in America.

His big concern is how B117 is more dangerous than the current strand.

“B117 is just that -- 30-70% more transmissible,” he said. “We also see that it can cause more serious disease and increased death.”

He predicts that at its peak, the US will be at 195,000 hospitalizations everyday in the near future. By comparison, during the January peak, the US was at 130,000 hospitalizations per day.

“We all know how many of our healthcare systems literally were unable to provide, in some cases, minimal care,” he said.

The big issue revolves around the 65 years and older age group, which are more vulnerable. He predicts that before April, 30 million out of the 54 million people in this age group will not be vaccinated.

“The potential for this variant to cause such severe illness and increased hospitalization and deaths, particularly in that age group, yeah, that’s why I’m extremely concerned,” he said.

He believes that the most vital thing that must happen is to make sure that everyone in the older age group should get one dose. This will involve suspending a second dose for people who received their first dose.

By vaccinating the older age group, this will lead to a dramatic decrease of hospitalizations and death. Those who received their first dose can get their second dose once the older age group has been vaccinated.

He believes this new strand will be a huge challenge for the US to take on.

“This is gonna be a challenge unlike anything we’ve seen since HIV/AIDS,” he said.

Despite the massive hurtles the US is expected to overcome, he believes that America will be able to overcome it with the vaccination and therapeutic programs.