Dr. Anthony Fauci, Biden’s top medical advisor, is attempting to change the definition of the term “fully vaccinated.” Previously, he suggested mandating the booster dose be called “fully vaccinated.”
However, Fauci backtracked from his earlier comments, stating the department has no plan to include booster shots for full vaccination requirements.
Fauci’s contradicting statements
Last week, Dr. Fauci said the FDA can consider people fully vaccinated if they have taken the booster dose. Now, he claims the government is considering people fully vaccinated if they have taken two doses of Pfizer or Moderna or one dose of Johnson & Johnson.
However, Fauci asserted the Biden administration is looking at the data. They will continue to do so and decide any further course of policy. Then, they’ll redefine the term “fully vaccinated” if the data tells them to do so.
Speaking to ABC’s “This Week,” Fauci expressed his hope the booster shots will last more than normal vaccines so people will not have to take them every six months.
Dr. Fauci said that booster doses of the COVID vaccine may become the standard for a "full" vaccination. https://t.co/1zhkrXLQM1
— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) November 19, 2021
However, the claims Fauci made are contradictory to the opinion of Albert Bourla, Pfizer’s CEO. Bourla stated the boosters would be needed annually to maintain immunity against the pandemic.
Meanwhile, Democrat governors of New Mexico and Connecticut said boosters shots are needed for anyone who claims to be fully vaccinated. Michelle Lujan Grisham, New Mexico’s governor, said she was looking for mandating vaccines to curb the virus, which includes taking three jabs.
While there is no legal directive to change the definition of “fully vaccinated” in either of the states, governors’ comments suggest the change in policy is imminent in the coming weeks.
David Scrase, secretary of the New Mexico Health and Human Services, also backed the governor’s comments. He said a new order to redefine the term can come anytime soon.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) allowed all US adults to get booster doses on Friday, asserting it will further help the nation in curbing the pandemic.
UPDATE: Everyone ages 18+ is eligible for a #COVID19 booster.
If you got an mRNA vaccine, you may get a booster dose 6 months after being fully vaccinated.
If you got a one-dose vaccine, you may get a booster dose 2 months after being fully vaccinated. https://t.co/h0qVLjSlKN pic.twitter.com/thVFQgcTK1
— CDC (@CDCgov) November 19, 2021
On November 17, Dr. Fauci claimed hospitalization rates in fully vaccinated people were increasing in the United States, which depicts the waning immunity over time. Back then, it was evident Fauci was building up his case for the urgency of the booster doses.
Florida banned vaccine mandates for private employers
On the other hand, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis banned the vaccine mandate on Thursday, amid his bid to stop workers from losing their jobs. With this directive, private employers will not be able to make vaccines compulsory for their employees.
A fine for $10,000 and $50,000 per violation will be imposed on small and big businesses, respectively, if they enforce any such mandate. With the new directive, Disney has also paused the vaccine mandate to avoid getting fined.
If the definition of “fully vaccinated” is revised, it will mandate people to get boosters in order to keep their jobs at places where the Biden administration introduced the vaccine mandate.
