Fauci says Trump, Biden should be vaccinated immediately

The nation’s leading infectious disease doctor on Tuesday said it is imperative both President Trump and President-elect Joe Biden receive doses of the coronavirus vaccine as soon as possible. 

“For security reasons, I really feel strongly that we should get them vaccinated as soon as we possibly can,” Anthony Fauci said in an appearance on ABC’s “Good Morning America.”

While speaking about Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, Fauci said he would like to see Biden “fully protected as he enters into the presidency in January. So that would be my strong recommendation.”

Though Trump has already contracted and recovered from the virus, Fauci said he believes Trump should be vaccinated to be “doubly” sure he is protected because he remains “very important to our country right now.”

Trump said over the weekend that members of his administration “should receive the vaccine somewhat later in the program, unless specifically necessary.” 

On Monday, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said key staffers “like Situation Room staff, among others” will have early access to the vaccine. 

Biden has pledged to take the vaccine publicly to help build trust in its safety and promised to help governments around the country administer “100 million shots in 100 days.” 

Last week, the Food and Drug Administration approved a Pfizer coronavirus vaccine that public health officials estimate is more than 90 percent effective. The first shipments of the vaccine were sent across the country over the weekend, and health care and other front-line workers received the first shots on Monday.

Public health officials estimate healthy younger Americans can expect to have access to a vaccine by the spring. 

“People, understandably, are skeptical about the speed, but we have to keep emphasizing speed means the science was extraordinary that got us here,” Fauci said. 

Dr. Anthony Fauci on what to know about the COVID-19 vaccine: “People, understandably, are skeptical about the speed, but we have to keep emphasizing speed means the science was extraordinary that got us here.”
@GStephanopouloshttps://t.co/hF8XFKI0p0 pic.twitter.com/Vqzh854KRZ

— Good Morning America (@GMA) December 15, 2020