International Desk:
Dhaka, Jul-26,
The United States is in an “unnecessary predicament” of soaring COVID-19 cases fueled by unvaccinated Americans and the virulent delta variant, the nation’s top infectious diseases expert said Sunday.
“We’re going in the wrong direction,” said Dr. Anthony Fauci, describing himself as “very
frustrated.”
He said recommending
that the vaccinated wear masks are “under active consideration” by the government’s leading public health officials. Also, booster shots may be suggested for people with suppressed immune systems who have been vaccinated,
Fauci said.
Fauci, who also serves
as President Joe Biden’s chief medical adviser, told CNN’s “State of the Union”
that he has taken part in conversations about altering the mask guidelines.
He noted that some
local jurisdictions where infection rates are surging, such as Los Angeles
County, are already calling on individuals to wear masks in indoor public
spaces regardless of vaccination status. Fauci said those local rules are
compatible with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendation
that the vaccinated do not need to wear masks in public.
More than 163 million
people, or 49% of the total U.S. population, are fully vaccinated, according to
CDC data. Of those eligible for the vaccine, aged 12 and over, the figure rises
to 57%.
“This is an issue
predominantly among the unvaccinated, which is the reason why we’re out there,
practically pleading with the unvaccinated people to go out and get
vaccinated,” Fauci said.
Fauci said government
experts are reviewing early data as they consider whether to recommend that
vaccinated individuals to get booster shots. He suggested that some of the most
vulnerable, such as organ transplant and cancer patients, is “likely” to be
recommended for booster shots.
He also praised
Republicans, including Govs. Asa Hutchinson of Arkansas and Ron DeSantis of
Florida, and the second-ranking House leader, Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana,
for encouraging their constituents to get vaccinated. Their states have among
the lowest vaccination rates in the country.
“What I would really
like to see is more and more of the leaders in those areas that are not
vaccinating to get out and speak out and encourage people to get vaccinated,”
Fauci said.
