Fauci: COVID Vaccines May Soon Be Given Annually

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Anthony Fauci
Image copyright: Bloomberg/Getty Images [via NBC]

The Facts

  • At a White House briefing on Tues., Dr. Anthony Fauci - director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) - stated that COVID vaccines were heading towards a "cadence similar to that of the annual influenza vaccine."

  • He said that potential annual jabs were becoming "increasingly clear" in the "absence of a dramatically different variant."

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The Spin

Narrative A

By likening updated COVID booster vaccines to the annual flu shots, the White House is attempting to encourage and calm COVID-weary Americans. The message reflects another transition point in the fight against the virus. Although not the stark danger it once was, hundreds are still dying daily and health officials must still encourage the public to continue to take COVID seriously.

STAT

Narrative B

Vaccines and boosters are great, but Omicron is mild and spreading too quickly to be stopped altogether. We should aim for natural herd immunity and vaccinate only the vulnerable. Resistance is futile.

Wall Street Journal

Metaculus Prediction

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Anthony Fauci

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