Scott Gottlieb, the former head of the Food and Drug Administration, said COVID-19 vaccines still provide strong protection against serious disease and death, even as new research shows vaccinated individuals can spread the worrying Delta variant.

There is more evidence that people are likely to spread the Delta variant even after vaccination than they were likely to spread the other variants.

Last week, the agency released sobering data indicating that vaccinated individuals could still spread the Delta variant.

The CDC said the finding that fully vaccinated people can also spread the virus is what prompted the agency's swift change in mask guidance last week. 

"We know that there [are] more people with this Delta variant who've been vaccinated who are probably spreading the infection," Gottlieb said

Gottlieb said those who are vaccinated and may come in contact with young children, the elderly, or immunocompromised individuals should be conscious of putting others at risk and spreading the virus

"We need to recognize, especially for vaccinated people who might be in contact with young children, with elderly individuals who are at risk, that there is a risk that they could develop a mild or asymptomatic infection and go on to spread it to others," he said.