Anthony Stephen Fauci

“ On vaccinations, President Biden put it simply when he said, “We need to increase vaccine supply and get it out the door as fast as possible. We need to mobilize more medical units to get more shots in people’s arms. And we need to create more places where Americans can get vaccinated.”
The President set a goal to deliver 100 million shots in his first 100 days. Today I want to give you an update on our execution against that goal.
We will also hear a state-of-the-pandemic update from Dr. Walensky and an update on the latest science from Dr. Fauci. We will then open it up for questions. ”

“ And just about 20 minutes ago, a new Monmouth poll shows about 50 percent of Americans plan to get the vaccine when they can, but 24 percent say it is likely they will never get it if they can avoid it. So, my question is: Are there any conditions under which you would recommend requiring a vaccine to access certain places like federal properties, schools, or to travel, like if we fail to reach herd immunity after a certain point, or if more variants continue to spread? ”

“ So I just want to remind people that this is a global effort, and the more we get the virus controlled globally — and we will be part of that process as part of the global community — the better off we will be. Because I’ve said it many times, and I’ll close by saying it again: We have to be concerned about the mutants. Viruses will not mutate well if you don’t give them the opportunity to replicate in a very large way. Namely, if you have an open playing field for the virus, they will replicate, and they will mutate. ”

“ We get asked all the time: “Should we be double masking?” The CDC makes recommendations based on data that they accumulate because it’s a science-based organization. Right now, they are looking at these different options of mask wearing. ”

“ It means that under special circumstances, it’s better to delay that couple of weeks than not do it at all.
But we feel strongly that we will go by the science, which has dictated for us the optimal way to get the 94 to 95 percent response, which is, in fact, durable for the period of time that we’ve been following it.
One other thing I want to mention: We live in a global community, and it is encouraging to see that other countries are coming out with results from their own vaccine trial, such as the Russian trial that we heard about a day or two ago ”

“ We have to address that vaccine hesitancy at its roots and understand why people are hesitant.I do believe that the more people who get this vaccine — we now have over 32 million who’ve received at least one dose — the more people will realize and recognize that it is being distributed and given safely and that the side effects really are minimal to moderate — minimal, really — with very rare risk of events that can be managed. ”

“ And that means that every school has the equipment and the resources to open safely — not just private schools or schools in wealthy areas, but all schools. And that’s why we need the American Rescue Plan passed now. It includes money to get schools better access to testing, enables smaller class sizes, acquire the necessary ventilation, ensure everyone has PPE, and that schools are properly sanitized. ”

“ If you’re talking about a physical barrier — and, as the CDC recommends, you want at least two layers within the mask as a physical barrier — and you feel maybe more of a physical barrier would be better, there’s nothing wrong with people wearing two masks. ”

“ You know, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has created these guides — this guidance for how we should be thinking about prioritizing among all essential workers and all of the population at large.You know, those have been taken under recommendation — guidance from the states, and then the states are creating their own individual plans. ”

“ So I think that is really our best barrier against these variants, is to do the masking, the distancing. And you will — more data will be forthcoming from the CDC with regard to the value of double masking. MR. ZIENTS: I’ll remind everybody that on his first day in office, President Biden signed an executive order requiring mask wearing in all federal buildings, all federal places, and in public transportation, interstate travel. And that is all part of a nationwide 100-day mask challenge. ”