Dr. Anthony Fauci said that it is possible that COVID-19 vaccines may become mandatory for traveling to other countries or attending school.
“Everything will be up for discussion,” Fauci, who will be President-elect Joe Biden’s chief medical advisor, told Newsweek.
The director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases stressed that “it is not for me to make a decision”, but added that “these are all the things that will be discussed [under the Biden administration]. “
“I’m not sure [the COVID-19 vaccine] it will be mandatory from the point of view of the central government, as mandates from the federal government, ”said Fauci, although he added that he is“ certain ”that some individual institutions will require the injection.
Fauci said that vaccine requirements in schools are “possible”, but would come from mandates at the state or municipal level.
“A municipal school system may require this in some cities, but not in others. And that is what I mean by things not being done centrally, but locally, ”said Fauci.
Regarding travel, Fauci said the United States could potentially issue COVID-19 vaccine passports – similar to those planned for Israel, which would allow residents to travel abroad without having a coronavirus test.
The coronavirus vaccine may also be required by other countries, said Fauci.
“So we, in this country, do not demand [people] to get a yellow fever vaccine when you go somewhere. It is the place where you are going that requires it, ”he said.
About 3.2 million initial doses of Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines have been given to Americans since inoculations were first approved last month, according to a Bloomberg count.