Anthony Fauci, an expert on the White House coronavirus task force, said Tuesday he does not anticipate the United States will require citizens to take a coronavirus vaccine if and when it becomes available, according to The Hill.
"I don't think you'll ever see a mandating of vaccines particularly for the general public," Fauci said during a live-streamed interview with Healthline.
Fauci pointed out people working in healthcare fields might be kept from the workplace or interacting with patients if they have not received vaccinations for the flu.
And schools usually mandate measles and other infectious disease vaccinations for students before they can attend classes.
Fauci added, he'd "be pretty surprised if you mandated it for any element of the general public."
While several vaccine candidates are in clinical trials, Fauci said it is unlikely any vaccine will have 98% effectiveness against coronavirus.
Vaccine hesitancy has driven fear among parents of young children. Many parents avoid getting measles, mumps, and rubella shots for their kids due to concerns of their children developing autism.
There are several vaccine candidates in clinical trials, and some look promising at providing a level of protection against COVID-19.
A recent Gallup poll reported 1 in 3 Americans would not take a coronavirus vaccine if it were available today.
About 67% of white Americans said they would get vaccinated against coronavirus versus 59% of non-white Americans. Residents of rural communities are less likely to want vaccinations than those who live in small towns, suburbs, and large cities.
"They have the right to refuse a vaccine," Fauci said. "I don't think you need a contingency plan. If someone refuses the vaccine in the general public, then there's nothing you can do about that. You cannot force someone to take a vaccine."
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