Dr. Anthony Fauci has hope that the US could start to see some normalcy by the fall of 2021, depending on how vaccine rollout goes.
While speaking to California Governor Gavin Newsome during a virtual Facebook live conversation on Wednesday (December 30), Dr. Fauci said the nation could begin to achieve herd immunity when 70-85% of Americans get the coronavirus vaccine, as reported by CBS 13.
“I believe that if we do the kind of vaccines through April, May, June, July, that by the time we get to the early fall, we will have enough good herd immunity to be able to really get back to some strong semblance of normality,” Dr. Fauci said. “Schools, theaters, sporting events, restaurants. I believe if we do it correctly, we will be there by the early fall.”
Dr. Fauci’s predictions offer hope as the nation’s healthcare system is overwhelmed by COVID-19 patients, marking grim milestones on a daily basis.
The nation’s lawmakers and other leaders, including Dr. Fauci, received their first dose of the Moderna vaccine on camera last week. Fauci and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris chose to get their shots on camera to urge Americans to do the same.
“I’m doing it because I want to symbolize to people the importance that everyone gets vaccinated who can get vaccinated, but also it’s a good feeling of accomplishment because this originated in laboratories in my institute,” Dr. Fauci said at the time of his first dose.
So far, vaccine rollout is taking place in phases, getting frontline healthcare workers and elderly residents of long-term nursing facilities vaccinated first. In April, Dr. Fauci says the vaccine will go into what he calls, “open season,” being readily available for anyone who wants it.
“Let’s say in April, it will be what I call open season, namely, anybody who wants to get vaccinated can get vaccinated,” he said. “If we then diligently vaccinate people in April, May, June, July, then we will gradually and noticeably get a degree of protection approaching herd immunity.”
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