Fauci says he'd support requiring all US flight passengers to get vaccinated
- Dr. Anthony Fauci said he supports the idea of mandating vaccinations for air travel, according to an upcoming interview with The Skimm.
- Fauci's comments come less than a week after President Biden announced a vaccine mandate for businesses with more than 100 employees.
- About 54% of all Americans are fully vaccinated, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the longtime director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, says he would support a vaccine mandate for air travel within the United States.
"I would support that if you want to get on a plane and travel with other people then you should be vaccinated," he said in a podcast interview with The Skimm, which is set to air later this week.
Fauci's suggestion is not unheard of: Requiring a vaccine for air travel is supported by the majority of Americans. A Gallup poll taken in August found that 61% of respondents supported vaccines for flying.
The director of the NIAID also noted in The Skimm interview that the US is likely to reach "herd immunity" status if the "overwhelming proportion of the population" gets vaccinated. His comments come less than one week after President Joe Biden announced a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for federal employees, healthcare workers, and companies with over 100 employees.
Biden's vaccination mandate drew the ire of GOP officials who accused the president of overstepping the government's authority. Several Republican governors said they plan to sue the Biden administration over the new requirements.
About 54% of all Americans are fully vaccinated, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.