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Dr. Anthony Fauci, one of the country’s foremost authorities on infectious diseases, said this week that Pfizer and Moderna boosters could be coming for all, not just certain groups that are currently eligible.
Currently, Americans who are over the age of 65, those who are immunocompromised, and anyone who is frequently exposed to the virus through work is eligible for the COVID-19 booster shots six months after receiving their second dose.
According to Fauci, it is expected that everyone will eventually need booster shots, and the general population could become eligible for the third shot as soon as the upcoming winter.
“The data are really quite striking, of the difference and the protection that you get among individuals who have been boosted versus just vaccinated,” Fauci said. “People will make their individual choice, but I think if you look at the data, it would be suggested that when you are eligible, that you should get vaccinated with your boost.”
In a recent interview, Fauci cautioned that while the COVID-19 statistics have been improving, the number of Americans who remain unvaccinated co old be a cause of concern as the holiday season rapidly approaches.
“It’s a mixed bag,” Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told McClatchy this week. “I feel good that the cases, the hospitalizations and the deaths are coming down. I’m still concerned that we have 64 million people who are eligible to be vaccinated who have not been vaccinated.
“Vaccinated people should look forward to spending holidays with the family and close friends,” he added. “You’d like to know the status of the people if you’re going to have indoor gatherings with them, but if you’re vaccinated, you should look forward to spending your typical holiday time with family and with close friends.”
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