Topline
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the U.S.’ top infectious disease official, told CNBC that life in the U.S. could “be approaching some level of normality” by fall if enough people have been vaccinated against Covid-19, including vulnerable populations who could be protected by an “umbrella” of immunity created by widespread inoculation.
Dr. Anthony Fauci said the U.S. could be returning to normal by mid-Fall if enough people are ... [+]
Key Facts
Fauci, who has led the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for nearly four decades, said that if the “overwhelming proportion of the population” could be vaccinated against Covid-19 by the end of summer, the country would be on track to reach normality by the middle of fall.
This return to normal life could include activities like safely eating out, going to the movies and theater and returning children to school, the expert said.
Even vulnerable populations, some of whom might not be able to be safely vaccinated, could start to see their lives returning to normal, Fauci said, explaining that they would be protected by an “umbrella” of immunity created by widespread vaccination.
“That would be able to protect even the vulnerable who have not been vaccinated, or those in which the vaccine has not been effective,” he said.
Fauci said between 75% and 85% of the population would need to be immunized to prevent further spread of the novel coronavirus.
Key Background
After a favorable review of evidence from clinical trials, U.S. Food and Drug Administration is expected to approve a second Covid-19 vaccine, produced by Moderna, for emergency use this week. It will join the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which has been distributed across the country and administered in the first set of patients. Most Americans will have to wait until next year to be offered a vaccine, however, with the vast majority of these initial doses slated to go towards those most at-risk of severe disease and frontline medical workers.
Further Reading
Dr. Fauci says U.S. could return to normal by mid-fall if most people get Covid vaccine (CNBC)
Here’s When Experts Say Things Could Get Back To Back To Normal After Coronavirus (Forbes)
