Delta variant “will find everyone unimmunized,” warns Mayo Clinic vaccine expert

One of the country’s leading vaccine experts has issued a terrible warning to Americans: the powerful delta variant of the rapidly spreading coronavirus “will find anyone who is not immune.”

There is “no doubt that we are going to see an increase,” Dr. Gregory Poland of the prestigious Mayo Clinic told WCCO-TV in Minnesota.

Poland, which wears a mask indoors and outdoors in overcrowded conditions, warned the unvaccinated: “Make no mistake: ‘I’ve made it this far and I’m fine.’ This is a very different variant. He will find you. This virus will find anyone who is not immune. “

He added: “It is a serious, present and present danger to your health and that of your families if you are not vaccinated.”

While the major risk is for the unvaccinated, a continuing number of people without protection pose a risk to everyone, he warned.

“The more we go with a large number of unvaccinated people, the greater and greater the risk of developing a new variant that will escape the immunity induced by the vaccine. So we are our worst enemies here, ”Poland told KARE-11 TV. in Minneapolis.

Poland is particularly worried about children too young to be vaccinated – as well as adolescents whose parents are about to be vaccinated, especially because “we are seeing an increase in serious illnesses and hospitalizations among young people. “, did he declare.

He strongly agrees with the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation this week that children should wear a mask when they return to school, whether or not they are vaccinated.

“A mask is not a political symbol. It is a medical symbol to take care of yourself and others, ”he said.

The significantly more transmissible delta variant now accounts for about 83% of new COVID-19 cases in the United States, with the majority of deaths occurring in unvaccinated people. The variant increases cases in all states across the country.

In the week ending Tuesday, the United States recorded an average of 239 deaths per day from the virus, which is an increase of almost 48% from the previous week.

Check out an excerpt from Poland’s interview with WCCO-TV below. An extended interview with KARE-11 TV is above.