Biden's vaccine rules are a 'moderate' compromise, Fauci says
President Biden was "trying to be moderate" with his newly-announced COVID-19 vaccine rules, Dr. Anthony Fauci says.
Fauci, Biden's chief medical adviser, spoke with CNN about Biden's speech Thursday announcing that the Labor Department will require businesses with more than 100 employees to require proof of vaccination or weekly negative COVID-19 test results. Additionally, all government workers will be required to be vaccinated. The president is "clearly frustrated" with Americans not getting vaccinated, Fauci told CNN, adding that he is "equally frustrated" himself.
Fauci also defended the vaccine rules announced by Biden, which Republican governors have promised to challenge, arguing they're "moderate" because of the option for weekly testing.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"I think the president is being somewhat moderate in his demand, if you want to call it that, in that there are some people who really don't want to get vaccinated, but they don't want to lose their job," Fauci said. "You've got to give them an off lane. … So it really is somewhat of a compromise there."
Fauci suggested he would personally be in favor of not offering this "off lane," though, saying, "Myself, I would make it just vaccinate or not, but [Biden] was trying to be moderate in what his pronouncement was." This answer came in response to a question from CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta, who wondered, "Why not just do the vaccine mandate and not say that the testing can be sort of this off ramp?"
Fauci also argued that Biden does have the authority to implement these rules, telling CNN he doesn't see "any issue" that would prevent them from going into effect.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
'The House under GOP rule has become a hostile workplace'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Trump gets $289M break, first criminal trial date
Speed Read The former president's fraud bond has been reduced to $175 million from $464 million
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US-Israel rift widens after UN cease-fire resolution
Speed Read The U.S. declined to veto a U.N. resolution calling for a two-week "immediate cease-fire" in Gaza
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
New Jersey first lady exits race to replace Menendez
Speed Read Tammy Murphy dropping out paves the way for Rep. Andy Kim to become the state's next senator
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Russia blames Ukraine for deadly ISIS Moscow attack
Speed Read Putin has ignored the Islamic State's claim of responsibility for the concert hall shooting
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'A "conservative voice" does not spread misinformation for political advantage'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Trump-RNC pact puts Trump legal bills ahead of GOP
Speed Read The former president has struck a deal with the Republican National Committee to put donations toward his legal bills
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'A wonky bureaucratic tweak has dramatically changed how Americans drive'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published