NIH Director Francis Collins Tells NBC’s Chuck Todd That Omicron May Not Be the ‘Last Emerging Variant’ of COVID-19

NIH director Francis Collins is among the medical professionals who now are in the spotlight thanks to the spread of COVID-19 that began last year.

Today, Collins spoke to NBC’s Chuck Todd on “Meet the Press” about the latest variant of the virus to spread around the world and it has now been identified in 16 states.

Todd noted one “result” the new variant has created is more “demand” for vaccines, including a six-month high on Thursday.

After discussing news that the variant has “fused” with the common cold, Todd then asked him about the possibility that there would be a new “dominant variant every six months.”

“It is certainly possible that this is not the last emerging variant that will attract a lot of attention, a lot of concern,” Collins explained.

Last Sunday, Collins told Fox News’ Chris Wallace during an interview on “Fox News Sunday” that current COVID-19 vaccines will “most likely” be effective against the omicron variant, but that it was too soon to tell for sure.

An NBC News article today reported that some vaccine experts worry that numerous booster doses of existing vaccines could make future vaccines, if needed, less effective.

Collins, who was appointed to his position by former President Barack Obama, announced at the beginning of October that he would step down at the end of the year after more than 12 years in the position.

Watch the interview below: