Fauci tamps down fears of another coronavirus wave

Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious diseases expert, on Tuesday said he is confident the mass vaccination effort underway in the United States will prevent another “explosion” of coronavirus cases and a fourth deadly wave of the pandemic.

“As long as we keep vaccinating people efficiently and effectively, I don’t think that’s gonna happen,” Fauci said of a fourth wave during an appearance on MSNBC’s Morning Joe. “That doesn’t mean that we’re not going to still see an increase in cases.” 

Fauci said it will “remain to be seen” if there is an uptick in cases or if it will “explode into a real surge” as more states reopen their economies and relax public health guidelines.

“I think that the vaccine is gonna prevent that from happening,” he said. 

Dr. Anthony Fauci on whether we’ll have a fourth COVID surge:

“I think that the vaccine is gonna prevent that from happening.”

But he does warn against prematurely stopping mitigation efforts. pic.twitter.com/4NWC8on9gX

— The Recount (@therecount) April 6, 2021

The White House early on Tuesday announced President Biden’s administration is moving up the target for all American adults to be eligible to receive a coronavirus vaccine to April 19, two weeks earlier than the last stated goal. 

The federal government estimates nearly 150 million coronavirus vaccinations have been administered, with millions of doses being administered each day. 

Meanwhile, a new poll released on Tuesday found that a record low number of Americans say they are concerned about contracting COVID-19. 

Senior White House pandemic adviser Andy Slavitt said during a briefing on Monday that Americans should not “mistake progress for victory” when it comes to vaccines and nationwide coronavirus case numbers.