CDC: The coronavirus could be 'just a few mutations' away from evading the vaccines

CDC Director Rochelle Walensky

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• The coronavirus is "just a few mutations potentially away" from possibly evading the available COVID-19 vaccines, the CDC director said.
• "The big concern," Rochelle Walensky said, "is that the next variant that might emerge - just a few mutations potentially away - could potentially evade our vaccines. "
• Coronavirus cases, fueled by the highly transmissible Delta variant, have been surging in the US.
• See more stories on Insider's business page.

The head of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday that the coronavirus is "just a few mutations potentially away" from possibly evading the available COVID-19 vaccines.

"The largest concern that I think we in public health and science are worried about is that virus and the potential mutations away we are from a very transmissible virus that has the potential to evade our vaccines, in terms of how it protects us from severe disease and death," CDC director Rochelle Walensky said during a press briefing.

Walensky added, "The big concern is that the next variant that might emerge - just a few mutations potentially away - could potentially evade our vaccines. "

She explained that "fortunately we are not there" since the current COVID-19 vaccines in the US "operate really well in protecting us from severe disease and death."

Coronavirus cases, fueled by the highly transmissible Delta variant, have been surging in the US and across the globe - largely among those who are unvaccinated.

This story is developing. Please check back for updates.

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