Former FDA Commissioner and Pfizer board member Dr. Scott Gottlieb appeared on CBS to discuss the "highly mutated" BA.2.86 variant. Gottlieb noted that while the variant is genetically distinct, it does not yet appear more pathogenic. He promoted the mid-September rollout of new boosters, which will be funded by the Biden administration's $5 billion "Project Next Gen." The vaccines are expected to be available for free at pharmacies and health departments by Halloween.
