COVID vaccine boosters about health, not politics, says Fauci
Politics had nothing to do with a recent decision from federal regulators on COVID booster shots, President Biden’s chief medical adviser said Sunday.
A Food and Drug Administration panel endorsed booster shots for all Johnson & Johnson vaccine recipients and for select Moderna vaccine recipients last week, after White House officials had voiced support for additional shots.
The White House’s stance had no influence on the FDA’s decision, according to Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
“I don’t think there’s any political issue there. I think it’s just public health data and evidence,” he told “Fox News Sunday.”
It’s all about the data, Fauci added.
Dr. Anthony Fauci on Capitol Hill in July 2021. (J. Scott Applewhite/)
“It’s very, very clear that there’s waning immunity and that we do need to boost individuals who’ve received any of the three products that we’ve been dealing with right now,” he said.
Along with Moderna and J&J, Pfizer has produced a COVID vaccine.
An FDA panel on Friday recommended a booster for all recipients of J&J’s vaccine. On Thursday, it endorsed a Moderna booster for seniors and people with health problems. The FDA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are expected to accept the recommendations.
Last month, the government recommended booster shots for older people and high-risk individuals who had gotten the Pfizer vaccine.
With two thirds of Americans having received at least one vaccine dose, Fauci repeated calls for people to get jabbed.
“The more people we get vaccinated, the less likelihood there is going to be another surge as we go into the winter,” he said.
He struck a diplomatic note when asked about Republican officials’ opposition to vaccine mandates at private businesses.
“When you are in a public health crisis, sometimes unusual situations require unusual actions. In this case, it’s things like mandating, be they masks or vaccinations,” Fauci said.
With News Wire Services
Source: Read Full Article