Medical Director for the Milwaukee COVID-19 Emergency Operations Center Dr. Ben Weston joins the Yahoo Finance Live panel to discuss the latest coronavirus developments as YouTube blocks all anti-vaccine content.

Video Transcript

ADAM SHAPIRO: Dr. Ben Weston, medical director of the Milwaukee COVID-19 Emergency Operations Center. Thank you for joining us. It's good to have you back on the program. Um, when we talk about vaccines, there is this news about YouTube blocking all anti-vaccine content. Not just COVID-19, but the stuff that goes back to both Democrats and Republicans who have been against vaccines because of some of the misinformation out there. What do you think?

- Well, thanks for having me back on. You know, I think the spread of false information about vaccines, uh, on all social media platforms has significantly handicapped the public health efforts across the country. Now, certainly, there's a place for debate, there's a place for robust discussion, but I support that these companies-- these private companies-- are not condoning blatant misinformation, uh, and misinformation that's costing lives promoting that on their platforms.

SEANA SMITH: Doctor, do you think a decision like this, that it could have a substantial impact then just in terms of the number of people that could potentially be more willing to get vaccinated?

BEN WESTON: I think it can. I think all the positive information about the vaccines, the fact that this is one of the safest vaccines that's ever been developed, the fact that this is one of the most effective vaccines that ever-- has ever been developed, all that information is countered by a lot of misinformation. I talk to patients almost every day and I ask them-- the ones who aren't vaccinated-- why they didn't get vaccinated and that's where the misinformation comes in. And so I think it's easier to fight that fight when they're not constantly being bombarded with Facebook, with Twitter, with Instagram, with YouTube and this false information.

ADAM SHAPIRO: I want to turn to, uh, the Pfizer 19 vaccine eventually being approved for children. Uh, two part question for you. I suspect you would be in favor of that, but what happened with approval for the Moderna vaccine? Where do we stand with all of that? Are you getting updates?

BEN WESTON: Well, it seems like Moderna is-- is following Pfizer in this step. And we've seen that a lot along the way here, but, um, I do hope the Pfizer vaccine will still come out by the end of October. I know there's been these concerns that it might be to November. It might, but if Pfizer can get that EUA and that emergency use authorization application, if they can get that in soon, uh, then I think the FDA can start working on it. And hopefully, by the end of October, we can start seeing 5 to 11-year-olds getting protected.

SEANA SMITH: Doctor, give us a sense of what you're seeing on the ground because case numbers have plateaued in some states that were hit hard by the Delta variant early. But in some states like yours of Wisconsin, we're still seeing case numbers creep up. So what are you seeing on the ground there?

BEN WESTON: Well, we're certainly still seeing COVID, there's no doubt about that. And even as our numbers in Wisconsin continue to climb, but seem to have plateaued a little bit, we remain cautious. We're cautious with back to school.

We're cautious in Wisconsin, uh, with colder weather starting to come in and people starting to gather more indoors. So we're certainly feeling the effects of COVID still. We're seeing patients in the emergency department and our hospitals at high numbers and we're concerned for what the future will hold.

ADAM SHAPIRO: Doctor, I want to talk about breakthrough cases because it's come to my attention through friends-- two cases-- one's an elderly acquaintance who's in the hospital, underlying conditions-- smoker, had the vaccine but now has COVID. The other is a young college student, had the vaccine, and has the sniffles and tested positive for COVID. What can you tell us about the breakthrough cases and your chances if you should become one of them?

BEN WESTON: Well, so what we know about the vaccine is that it makes you about three times less likely to get infected in the first place. And so when we talk about vaccinated versus unvaccinated transmission right there, you're three times less likely to even get the virus. And so it automatically makes you less likely to transmit. But breakthrough cases do happen, but that's where the vaccine also comes in.

We know that the vaccine makes you about seven times less likely to get symptoms of infection. Um, and then for people who are unlucky enough to get severe or hospitalized, the vaccine prevents that as well. And the numbers range, but anywhere from 10 up to 25, close to 30 times less likely to get those severe symptoms or that hospitalization. So even though breakthrough cases happen, the vaccine is still extremely effective in preventing that severe disease or that hospitalization.

SEANA SMITH: Doctor, you mentioned the fact that we're heading into the fall, and of course, then into the winter. So into the colder months, more and more people are going to be gathering inside. What are the steps that people should be taking right now in order to stay safe? Obviously, get vaccinated, but what else should we be doing?

BEN WESTON: So it's back to the basics. It's three things. It's masking, it's distancing, and it's ventilation. And then the vaccine, of course, but you mentioned that.

So it's masking. It's using the highest quality mask you can. A surgical mask is better than a cloth mask. If you're in an enclosed environment for a long time, a KN95 is better than a surgical mask.

And it's about that distancing and 6 feet is better than 3 feet. It's the same sort of thing. And then ventilation, keep the windows open if you can.

Keep the ventilation in the room going if you can. Try to get high quality ventilation. And those three things give you the best chance of reducing transmission of disease.

ADAM SHAPIRO: When this is all over and we're out of the pandemic, will you keep wearing a mask in public? I know for instance, in some cultures, people wear masks before the pandemic and you would see those visitors to our country wear a mask here. You think more of us will do that after the pandemic?

BEN WESTON: Well, personally, I think if we get to a point where a large enough number of people are vaccinated that we're driving down the burden of disease to very low transmission levels, I think in the vast majority of public situations I'll feel very comfortable not wearing a mask. Now that said, I also work in the health care setting and I think we may see a change in how health care settings are-- are managed. And I think I know for myself, I won't be comfortable taking my mask open the emergency department for quite a while.

ADAM SHAPIRO: Dr. Ben Weston, medical director for the Milwaukee COVID 19 Emergency Operations Center. Thank you for joining us here on Yahoo Finance. Live.