Dr.Anthony Faucisays that President-electJoe Bidenand Vice President-electKamala Harrisas well as PresidentDonald Trumpand Vice PresidentMike Penceshould all receive a COVID-19 vaccination “as soon as we possibly can.”Fauci, 79, gave his latest advice Tuesday morning onGood Morning America— one day after the first vaccinations for thenovel coronavirus (COVID-19)were administered in the U.S., with doses being given in priority order.“This is a person who very soon will be the president of the United States, and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris will very soon be the vice president of the United States,” Fauci said. “For security reasons, I really feel strongly that we should get them vaccinated as soon as we possibly can.”Biden, 78, is also in a higher-risk category for COVID-19 due to his age.“You want [Biden] fully protected as he enters into the presidency in January, so that would be my strong recommendation," said Fauci, who is the nation’s leading expert on infectious disease and a key member of the White House coronavirus task force.Fauci also toldGMAanchorGeorge Stephanopoulosthat he would recommend Trump and Pence also receive a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible.“You still want to protect people who are very important to our country right now,” he said.President-elect Joe Biden.Drew Angerer/Getty ImagesVice President-elect Kamala Harris.Mark Makela/GettyThe White House said last week that the decision about Trump, 74, taking the vaccine — and taking it on camera — was still an “open question,” because the president already contracted the virus in October and subsequently recovered after being hospitalized.“I think there is something that’s up for discussion as to whether someone who’s recovered from COVID and has antibodies would necessarily be a high priority for receiving the vaccine and for the purposes of vaccine confidence,” a senior administration official previously told reporters.“But he’s expressed his willingness,” the official said of Trump.Dr. Anthony Fauci.Tasos Katopodis/GettyCases in which people have contracted the coronavirus twice are rare butnot unheard of, and the Centers for Disease Control and Preventionsaysit’s still studying the likelihood of reinfection.Because of the uncertainty about the novel virus and the respiratory illness it causes, Fauci said this week Trump, 74, should consider taking the vaccine to be certain he’s protected.“Even though the president himself was infected and he has, likely, antibodies that likely would be protective, we’re not sure how long that protection lasts,” Fauci said. “To be doubly sure, I would recommend that he get vaccinated as well as the vice president.”The U.S. is currently experiencing one of the most aggressive phases of the COVID-19 pandemic, with more than 200,000 reported cases per day in the last week, according to aNew York Timestracker.More than 300,000 people have died from the virus in the U.S., while theTimesreports more than 16.5 million people have been confirmed to be infected this year.As information about thecoronavirus pandemicrapidly changes, PEOPLE is committed to providing the most recent data in our coverage. Some of the information in this story may have changed after publication. For the latest on COVID-19, readers are encouraged to use online resources from theWHOandlocal public health departments.PEOPLE has partnered with GoFundMeto raise money for the COVID-19 Relief Fund, a GoFundMe.org fundraiser to support everything from frontline responders to families in need, as well as organizations helping communities. For more information or to donate, clickhere.
Dr.Anthony Faucisays that President-electJoe Bidenand Vice President-electKamala Harrisas well as PresidentDonald Trumpand Vice PresidentMike Penceshould all receive a COVID-19 vaccination “as soon as we possibly can.”
Fauci, 79, gave his latest advice Tuesday morning onGood Morning America— one day after the first vaccinations for thenovel coronavirus (COVID-19)were administered in the U.S., with doses being given in priority order.
“This is a person who very soon will be the president of the United States, and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris will very soon be the vice president of the United States,” Fauci said. “For security reasons, I really feel strongly that we should get them vaccinated as soon as we possibly can.”
Biden, 78, is also in a higher-risk category for COVID-19 due to his age.
“You want [Biden] fully protected as he enters into the presidency in January, so that would be my strong recommendation," said Fauci, who is the nation’s leading expert on infectious disease and a key member of the White House coronavirus task force.
Fauci also toldGMAanchorGeorge Stephanopoulosthat he would recommend Trump and Pence also receive a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible.
“You still want to protect people who are very important to our country right now,” he said.
President-elect Joe Biden.Drew Angerer/Getty Images
Vice President-elect Kamala Harris.Mark Makela/Getty
The White House said last week that the decision about Trump, 74, taking the vaccine — and taking it on camera — was still an “open question,” because the president already contracted the virus in October and subsequently recovered after being hospitalized.
“I think there is something that’s up for discussion as to whether someone who’s recovered from COVID and has antibodies would necessarily be a high priority for receiving the vaccine and for the purposes of vaccine confidence,” a senior administration official previously told reporters.
“But he’s expressed his willingness,” the official said of Trump.
Dr. Anthony Fauci.Tasos Katopodis/Getty
Cases in which people have contracted the coronavirus twice are rare butnot unheard of, and the Centers for Disease Control and Preventionsaysit’s still studying the likelihood of reinfection.
Because of the uncertainty about the novel virus and the respiratory illness it causes, Fauci said this week Trump, 74, should consider taking the vaccine to be certain he’s protected.
“Even though the president himself was infected and he has, likely, antibodies that likely would be protective, we’re not sure how long that protection lasts,” Fauci said. “To be doubly sure, I would recommend that he get vaccinated as well as the vice president.”
The U.S. is currently experiencing one of the most aggressive phases of the COVID-19 pandemic, with more than 200,000 reported cases per day in the last week, according to aNew York Timestracker.
More than 300,000 people have died from the virus in the U.S., while theTimesreports more than 16.5 million people have been confirmed to be infected this year.
As information about thecoronavirus pandemicrapidly changes, PEOPLE is committed to providing the most recent data in our coverage. Some of the information in this story may have changed after publication. For the latest on COVID-19, readers are encouraged to use online resources from theWHOandlocal public health departments.PEOPLE has partnered with GoFundMeto raise money for the COVID-19 Relief Fund, a GoFundMe.org fundraiser to support everything from frontline responders to families in need, as well as organizations helping communities. For more information or to donate, clickhere.
source: people.com
