Fauci on vaccine mandates: ‘I respect people’s freedom, but’ this is a public health crisis

Dr. Anthony Fauci said he respects Americans’ freedoms, but the current public health crisis has convinced him “enough is enough” in a conversation with CNN about public and private vaccine mandates.

Following the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine this week, CNN’s Anderson Cooper asked Fauci Monday how much of a difference it would make if public and private employers began mandating vaccinations. Fauci acknowledged the FDA approval would be an incentive for companies and institutions to begin mandating the shot, adding he believes it would be a “good thing.”

“I respect people’s freedom, but when you’re talking about a public health crisis, that we’ve been going through now for well over a year and a half, the time is come, enough is enough,” Fauci, the White House chief medical adviser, told Cooper. “We’ve just got to get people vaccinated.”

“It’s up to us,” says Dr. Anthony Fauci of the effort to control the Covid virus.

“If we keep lingering without getting those people vaccinated that should be vaccinated, this thing could linger on, leading to the development of another variant which could complicate things.” pic.twitter.com/pIQv3ilAom

— Anderson Cooper 360° (@AC360) August 24, 2021

Fauci also appeared to have mixed feelings about individual freedoms during the pandemic ahead of South Dakota’s Sturgis Motorcycle Rally earlier this month, when he urged attendees to forego the entertainment and stay home for the greater good.- READ MORE