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Dr. Fauci has an urgent new warning for vaccinated people! The COVID White House Advisor wants everyone to know and act on this before the holidays!
Last year, there was a massive spike in COVID infections during the winter season as people gathered in their homes to spend the holidays, contrary to experts’ recommendations. Now, health officials report that more than million people are fully vaccinated – a precaution that wasn’t widely available in 2020. While that may be reason enough to celebrate like it was before the pandemic, COVID is still prevalent in the U.S., and the number of cases is rising. Last week, nearly 90,000 new cases were reported, an increase of more than 16 percent from the previous week, according to the CDC. With another possible increase on the horizon, vaccinated individuals should not let their guard down completely, health officials warn.
This will protect you this holiday season!
The White House’s top COVID advisor, Dr. Anthony Fauci, recently said that there may be a reason for you to wear your mask during the upcoming festivities. According to Fauci, you should wear a mask if you’re traveling to an indoor event and aren’t sure if the people around you have been vaccinated.
“If you’re in a situation where you’re gathering in an enclosed space, for example, and you don’t know people’s vaccination status, you should wear a mask,” Fauci told Dana Bash on CNN’s State of the Union on Nov. 21.
In this environment, even without a mask!
However, if you and your guests are all fully vaccinated, Fauci says it’s perfectly fine to skip the masks this holiday season. “That’s what I’m going to do with my family,” Fauci told Bash, since his entire family is vaccinated. “And I think that’s what people should do … That’s the point we keep coming back to. That’s the safety net, the vaccination. Takes away the fear. Takes away the worry of what people should and shouldn’t do.”
The infectious disease expert also advises vaccinated people to get a booster shot, especially now that all adults in the U.S. are eligible. “We know that these vaccines are safe and highly effective, and they go a long, long way in bringing protection up,” Fauci said. “So, just go ahead and get vaccinated. Now is the time to do it. As we head into the holiday season, you want to be fully protected in terms of optimal [protection].”
“Enjoy your time off with friends!”
He added, “For the people who are vaccinated, the people who can get a booster, enjoy the holiday season with your family, at home, with the grandparents, with the kids. Do it.”
On the other hand, for those who aren’t vaccinated, the holidays might be a little different. “If you’re not vaccinated, of course you’re more susceptible to catching it,” Fauci explains. “If you are vaccinated, you can enjoy the holidays without a care in the world. If you are not vaccinated, please be careful. Get tested if you need to get tested when you get together. But this is not a substitute for getting vaccinated.”
Some attendees may not have had the chance to get fully vaccinated before the Thanksgiving holiday, as the CDC did not approve Pfizer’s pediatric vaccine for children ages 5 to 11 until Nov. 2. However, Fauci says it’s not too late to make sure these children are adequately protected before the next big holiday.
“Looking ahead to Christmas, if we start vaccinating children 5 to 11 now, they will be fully vaccinated by the Christmas holidays. And that’s what we should be thinking about,” he told Bash.