Dr. Anthony Fauci on Sunday rejected suggestions that the U.S. be delaying the second dose of COVID-19 vaccine so that more Americans could get the first vaccine, saying the nation’s supply problem will be solved long before researchers they can study the proposal.
“If you really want to study it (the amount of time it will take, the amount of people you should devote to the study) right now, we will already be in the arena of having enough vaccines to go there,” Fauci tell host Chuck Todd on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
“It would be nice to know if you only give one dose, how long the durability lasts and what the level of effect is, but what we have right now and what we need to go for is the scientific data I’ve accumulated.”
Comments from the chief infectious disease doctor responded to expert Michael Osterholm, who suggested last week that delaying second intakes to administer higher first doses could prevent a projected increase in cases of “Category 5” hurricanes.
The country’s supply of vaccines is likely to be resolved before the Osterholm proposal can be studied effectively, Fauci said.
“It would be great if he studied, but I think we couldn’t do it in a while,” he told Todd.
Pressed by what the host called a “more appropriate” vaccine distribution process, Fauci said supply will increase “substantially” in the coming weeks and months.
“Things will get better as we go from February to March and April, as the number of vaccine doses that will be available will increase substantially,” he said.
But Fauci declined to answer clearly whether public schools should restart instruction in person immediately, despite recent comments from the CDC principal that they could safely reopen.
Instead, he urged the passage of President Biden’s “American Rescue Act,” which includes funding for the reopening of the school.
“We want K-8 to 8 schools to be open in the next 100 days,” said Fauci, who noted that COVID-19 transmission among elementary and middle school students was probably lower than among high school students.
“What they need is that they need help. That’s why we want the American Rescue Act to take place, so that schools can have the capacity, with masks, with the best ventilation, all the things you want to do. ”