The COVID-19 vaccine should be available to Americans in relatively good health by the spring, though returning to pre-pandemic life remains much further away, Dr. Anthony Fauci said Monday.
"I had been saying, by my calculation, sometime by the end of March, the beginning of April that the normal, healthy man or woman on the street who has no underlying conditions would likely get [the vaccine]," the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases told MSNBC.
Fauci's timeline combines that of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, who estimated early March, and Operation Warp Speed chief adviser Dr. Moncef Slaoui, who said May or June for the average American to get the vaccine.
"It's really going to depend on the efficiency of the roll out, the number of people that actually come forth," Fauci said. "The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices together with the [Centers for Disease Control and [Prevention] will put out, and already has put out, the priority list."
The Pfizer vaccine was authorized for emergency use by the Food and Drug Administration on Friday. Approximately 2.9 million doses were shipped to 145 locations Monday for distribution.
Front-line healthcare providers and nursing home patients and workers are top priority to receive the vaccine. People deemed essential personnel in society, the elderly and people with underlying conditions will form the next level of recipients.
"Depending on how efficient we get them through, [the average American's opportunity is] going to be anywhere in the bracket where you heard from the secretary or Moncef," Fauci said.
As for life in the U.S. returning to normal, that is, before COVID, Fauci said that could take "several months into the second half and beyond of 2021." That's when the director estimated COVID-19 no longer will be a public health threat.
"A vaccine right now is not a substitute for the normal standard public health measures of wearing a mask, keeping your distance, avoiding congregate crowded sections, particularly indoors," he said. "It's not a substitute, it complements it."
Fauci said clinical trials with "tens of thousands of people" did not produce any severe side effects. A sore arm, muscle aches, malaise, or short-term fever could result after taking the vaccine.
"In the [United Kingdom], they had two allergic reactions that were significant," he said. "That's the reason why they're saying if you have a history of severe allergic reaction, either don't get the vaccine right now, or do it in a place where they can respond to the allergic reaction."
Fauci added he was willing to get vaccinated publicly, and that could happen "as soon as my time comes up," perhaps as early as next week.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.