Dr. Fauci Advises Against Delaying Second Dose Of COVID Vaccine

Despite the shortage, Dr. Anthony Fauci advised against the United States delaying the second dose of the COVID vaccine.

“What we have right now, and what we must go with, is the scientific data that we’ve accumulated. And it’s really solid,” Fauci said in his defense rejecting the delay.

Fauci’s advisement stems from discrepancies between medical experts on how to proceed with the vaccine since the demand has inevitably surpassed the supply. 

Dr. Michael Osterholm, an epidemiologist who advised President Joe Biden’s transition team on the pandemic, believes that getting the first round out to as many as possible will be a preventative of an anticipated “Category 5” hurricane-like surge. 

But, Fauci argues the vaccinations are too time-sensitive and that Osterholm’s conclusion will take too long to research on whether or not it will be effective. 

“You can do both; you can get as many people in their first dose at the same time as adhering, within reason, to the timetable of the second dose. It would be great to have the study, but I don’t think we could do it in time,” Fauci told Chuck Todd on NBC’s “Meet the Press”. 

“If you want to really study it — the amount of time that it will take, the amount of people you would have to put in the study — by that time, we will already be in the arena of having enough vaccines to go around,” he continued. 

During his time with Todd, Fauci was very hopeful and adamant about the vaccine’s supply means. 

“Things are going to get better as we get from February into March into April because the number of vaccine doses that will be available will increase substantially,” Fauci said. 

The supply of the vaccines currently available will continue to increase. But, there are also new vaccines, such as the one from Johnson & Johnson, which is petitioning the Food and Drug Administration for emergency use authorization, according to NBC News. 

“Things will continue to get better.”