US could achieve 'umbrella of protection' against COVID-19 by summer 2021, suggests Fauci

US top infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci on December 23 said that if COVID-19 vaccines are rolled out smoothly, it might be possible to achieve widespre population immunity in United States by summer 2021. In an interview with WebMD that was posted on Wednesday, director of National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases suggested that people could host weddings as early as June or July and ded that he believed priority populations including home residents, health care workers, and or essential workers should receive ir iculations by March or April. This, if done ‘correctly’ can result in “umbrella protection” of entire United States.

“Dr. Anthony Fauci said, We could start in April doing what I call 'open season' on vaccinations -- namely anybody in general population who wants to get vaccinated will get vaccinated...By time we get into middle or end of summer, I believe we will have, if we do it correctly, we could have 70 to 85 per cent of population vaccinated.”

“When that occurs, re will be an umbrella of protection over entire country,” he ded.

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Fauci received COVID-19 vaccine

Fauci’s remarks came a day after he received first dose of COVID-19 vaccine alongside or senior officials on December 22. In a televised event at National Institutes of Health (NIH), Fauci rolled up his sleeve and said that he was taking initial dose as a “symbol” to rest of country that he feels confident in safety and efficacy of vaccine developed by Moderna. Furr, scientist also encourd everyone to get vaccinated so that re could be a “veil of protection” over country. 

Fauci said, “What we're seeing w is culmination of years of research which have led to a phemen that has truly been unprecedented. And that is to go from realization that we're dealing with a new pathogen, a virus that was described in January of this year, to less than one year later to have vaccines that are going into arms of so many people, including myself”. 

He ded, “I want to encour everyone who has opportunity to get vaccinated so that we could have a veil of protection over this country, that would end this pandemic”. 

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