“If, by the fourth of July, with the introduction of the vaccine, we get the level of infection so low – I will not be able to tell you exactly what the specific guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are, but I can assure you (guidelines “will be much more liberal than they can now about what you can do,” the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases told CNN’s Jake. Brave about “State of the Union.”
“They had a reduction in cases. They collapsed and they fell back on public health measures,” he said. “They opened restaurants. They opened a few bars. The younger people in particular stopped wearing masks. All of a sudden you have a resurgence that is upright again. ‘
He continued: “This is where we are now. We can avoid it, Jake. We can avoid it if we continue to vaccinate people, get more and more protection without suddenly withdrawing on social measures for health. ”
“We can do it today. All we need is the vaccinations of the federal government,” he said. “We can not buy vaccines. We can not produce vaccines. If the president and his team can deliver them, we do not have to wait until May 1, we can get there faster.”
In announcing its plan last week, Biden outlined new steps that the administration believes make the May 1 timeline realistic, including expanding the type of professionals capable of giving vaccines. Dentists, veterinarians and paramedics will all be included in the new approved list.
CNN’s Kevin Liptak, Jeff Zeleny and Jen Christensen contributed to this report.