- Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top infectious disease expert with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, said the U.S. could have COVID-19 under control by early next year, if vaccination rates accelerate
- Healthcare providers should also continue to utilize COVID-19 antibody treatments, which could reduce hospitalizations and deaths by as much as 85 percent, Fauci added
- U.S. officials also urged private employers and state and local governments to mandate vaccines for their staffs
WASHINGTON D.C.: Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top infectious disease expert with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, said the U.S. could have COVID-19 under control by early next year, if vaccination rates accelerate.
In multiple television interviews and a White House press conference on Tuesday, Fauci stressed that the Food and Drug Administration’s full approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine will assist in the vaccinations of more people, noting the anticipated approval of Moderna’s vaccine and the planned vaccination of younger children by autumn.
“I would like to appeal to unvaccinated people to realize that we have the capability to cut down the timeframe for getting to the end of this pandemic,” stated Fauci.
“I think there is a reasonable chance that Pfizer or Moderna could get FDA clearance for children under 12 before the upcoming holiday season. Hopefully by mid-to-late fall or early winter,” he told NBC News.
Healthcare providers should also continue to utilize COVID-19 antibody treatments, which could reduce hospitalizations and deaths by as much as 85 percent, Fauci added.
U.S. officials also urged private employers and state and local governments to mandate vaccines for their staffs.
Echoing the words of President Joe Biden on Monday, White House COVID Coordinator Jeffrey Zients said, “Now is the time” for U.S. employers to start mandating vaccinations.”
The White House is preparing to provide third booster doses starting in mid-September to those fully vaccinated more than eight months ago.
“We want to make sure we stay ahead of the virus,” Zients added.
The U.S. is battling a new surge in cases caused by the highly contagious Delta variant, with hospitalizations and deaths rising, especially in the South.
The average number of deaths from COVID-19 rose by 23 percent over the past seven days, said Dr. Rochelle Walensky, Director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, during a press call on Tuesday.
According to Reuters, daily COVID-19 deaths are now averaging about 1,000, while new daily cases are over 150,000.
