Abbott on fentanyl vaccine: 'This happens to be a health care innovation that’s transformative'

Gov. Greg Abbott visited a facility on the campus of the University of Houston (UH) on Thursday where researchers have developed a vaccine to battle the dangerous synthetic opioid fentanyl, per a press release issued by the Office of the Texas Governor. 

Houston CBS affiliate KHOU reported that Abbott, a Republican, met with the researchers to begin the tour of the fentanyl vaccine laboratory.

Per the governor’s office, he hailed the scientific innovation that UH unveiled last month. 

Houston Daily reported that the vaccine is touted as a potential “game changer” in battling the opioid epidemic and possesses the ability to prevent fentanyl from entering the brain to produce a “high.” 

“Today we celebrate one of those innovations,” Abbott said. “This happens to be a health care innovation that’s transformative."

The governor stressed that fentanyl continues to pose “the single deadliest drug threat” to Texas and the nation. 

“Texas continues leading the fight against this clandestine killer,” he said in the release. 

Abbott praised the team led by Dr. Colin Haile with UH’s Drug Discovery Institute. 

“This incredible, groundbreaking new therapy has the potential to revolutionize how we combat fentanyl deaths in our communities and end the afflictions of addiction that burden so many innocent Texans and Americans across the country,” he said, according to his office. “I look forward to working alongside the University of Houston and Dr. Haile in Texas' continued efforts to save innocent lives from being lost to this deadly drug.”

A Texas Tribune article that was ran by Houston NBC affiliate KPRC reported that Abbott, who secured reelection to a third term in last month’s elections, changed course on his stance on fentanyl testing strips. 

Previously opposed to their legalization, the governor now expresses support for any efforts to decriminalize them. 

“People will be able to test drugs at home to know whether or not it might be laced with fentanyl,” he said in the report.