Fauci’s remarks come as the Trump administration appears to be missing its ultimate goal of vaccinating 20 million Americans. About 12.4 million doses of vaccine were delivered to the states and about 2.7 million people received the first of two shots, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Meanwhile, the outbreak of the US has worsened over the course of the winter season, as Americans spread the virus indoors and gather in groups to celebrate the holidays. More than 3,740 deaths were recorded on Wednesday, which is another one-day record, and is expected to be followed quickly by January.
The vaccines developed by Pfizer and Moderna, which were approved by the Food and Drug Administration earlier this month for emergencies, provide some relief from the public health crisis. But Fauci acknowledged on Thursday that the U.S. vaccination effort could not meet the rosier predictions of some government officials.
Fauci reports that he spoke to General Gustave Perna, chief operating officer of Operation Warp Speed, on Wednesday morning about the status of the vaccination programs, and that the government’s desired rate of vaccination will now be more likely to be reached ‘as we come in mid-January , February and March ”of next year.
“If you undertake a very large operation, such as vaccinating an entire country with a new vaccine, there will always be bumps in the road and hiccups about it,” Fauci said. “We hope that is what it reflects.”
Over the past few days, the administration has argued that the vaccination figures of the CDC signify the actual number of shots fired, while President Donald Trump himself has repeatedly imposed on countries the duty to vaccinate their residents. ‘The federal government has distributed the vaccines to the states. Now it’s up to the states to administer. Get started! ” did he tweet on Wednesday.
But Fauci stressed on Thursday that the federal government must first ensure that states and local governments have the necessary resources to implement these programs, and he nods for his apparent disagreement with the White House on the vaccination strategy.
“My feeling is – and not everyone will agree with me – is that there should be a strong link between the national approach and the local approach,” Fauci said.
When federal officials leave their state and local counterparts “on their own, without giving them direction, without giving them the kind of resources they need … they can’t do that,” he added. “And it’s proven positive.”