Pouch Director: "US Omicron Peak in January"

▲Anthony Fauci, Director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) [Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] Anthony Fauci, director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), predicted that the COVID-19 Omicron variant will peak in the United States in January next year.

According to CNBC on the 29th (local time), Director Fauci stated, "It is difficult to say with certainty, but considering the size of the country and the vaccination status, the spread of the Omicron variant in the U.S. will continue until the end of January next year."

He added, "If it becomes clear that the Omicron variant replaces other existing variants that cause more severe symptoms, strictly speaking, it may be possible to bring forward the end of the COVID-19 pandemic."

He also said, "If there is a highly contagious virus that replaces other viruses and this virus is relatively less severe, positive outcomes can be expected."

However, he warned, "I cannot guarantee that this will happen. We must remember that we once thought everything would be fine as long as we got vaccinated, but the emergence of the Delta variant ruined everything."

Regarding vaccination for children under 5 years old, he said, "Vaccine trials for children aged 2 to 4 did not meet the authorities' approval standards," adding, "It may take at least two more months to get approval."

Earlier, on the 2nd of last month, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) approved Pfizer vaccine administration for children aged 5 to 11.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.