Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
We Will Have To Keep Masking Up Through Fall 2021, Fauci Forecasts
NBC News: Fauci Predicts 'Herd Immunity' For U.S. By Late Spring Or Early Summer
Dr. Anthony Fauci predicted Monday that the United States could achieve herd immunity against Covid-19 by "the end of the second quarter 2021" after vaccines are more widely deployed. Speaking to MSNBC's Hallie Jackson, Fauci — director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases — said that, depending on the "efficiency of the rollout," the Covid-19 vaccines should be widely available to most Americans by spring. (Fitzsimmons, 12/14)
The Hill: Fauci Warns People Not To Drop Normal 'Public Health Measures' As Vaccinations Begin
Anthony Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), warned Monday that the distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine doesn't mean people should drop "normal, standard public health measures." In an interview with MSNBC, the White House coronavirus task force member told viewers not to let down their guard as it pertains to necessary preventative measures to stop the spread the coronavirus despite the vaccine becoming available for some Americans for the first time this week. (Bowden, 12/14)
New York Post: Dr. Fauci Says He Could Get COVID-19 Vaccine 'Within A Week'
Dr. Anthony Fauci said Monday that he could get his own COVID-19 vaccination in the next few days. “I think it could be within a week,’’ the nation’s top infectious diseases doc told MSNBC. (Sheehy, 12/14)
The Baltimore Sun: A UMBC Grad Got A Shoutout From Dr. Fauci For Her Work On The Coronavirus Vaccine. Here’s Who She Is.
Dr. Anthony Fauci recently spoke out about the input of Black scientists in the coronavirus vaccine process and highlighted a Baltimore college graduate’s work. The director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases was quick to give credit to Dr. Barney Graham and his colleague, Dr. Kizzmekia “Kizzy” Corbett, and urged Black people, who have been disproportionately infected with and killed by the virus, to trust the vaccine. (Oxenden, 12/15)
WTOP: ‘Historic, Unprecedented Achievement’: Fauci On Vaccines And A Return To Normal
Fauci hopes to know by the second quarter of 2021 if the nation has a veil of immunity due to the vaccine. And by the end of 2021 and beginning of 2022, he hopes to find out if the vaccines will be a one-time thing, or if booster shots will be needed down the road. When it comes to scaling back health restrictions, Fauci said he believes a clearer picture of that will emerge as widespread vaccinations take place. (Murillo, 12/14)
