Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious diseases expert and member of the White House coronavirus task force, is suggesting Americans will most likely be able to make their own decision regarding a COVID-19 vaccine if one becomes available.
During a press briefing hosted by Sen. Doug Jones (D-Ala.), Fauci expressed his belief a nationwide mandate on a COVID-19 vaccine is not likely.
“I could see individual institutions mandating a vaccine. I don’t see it on a national level merely because of all situations you have upon encroaching upon a person’s freedom to make their own choice of their own health,” Fauci said.
Check out his comments below:
https://www.facebook.com/senatordougjones/videos/913960105743145/
Fauci noted he does not believe the United States has ever run into a situation where a vaccine has been mandated for the general population.
He has previously discussed his predictions for when a vaccine may become available to Americans and the ramifications if several choose to refuse it.
During an appearance on CNN on June 28, Fauci warned if enough Americans refuse the vaccine, the nation will not be able to achieve “herd immunity,” as IJR previously reported.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, herd immunity is “a situation in which a sufficient proportion of a population is immune to an infectious disease (through vaccination and/or prior illness) to make its spread from person to person unlikely.”
Testifying before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee on June 30, Fauci reported he is “aspirationally hopeful” a coronavirus vaccine will be available by the beginning of 2021, as IJR previously reported.
During a live internet interview with National Institutes of Health director Francis Collins on Monday, Fauci said the outbreak is a “serious situation that we have to address immediately.”
As of Tuesday afternoon, there are more than 2.9 million coronavirus cases in the U.S. alone and nearly 131,000 deaths.