DR. FAUCI: At least 40% of NIAID and FDA employees are refusing to get the COVID-19 vaccine

At least 40% of National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) employees are refusing to get the COVID-19 vaccine, according to NIAID Director Dr. Anthony Fauci and FDA official Dr. Peter Marks.

During a Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing on Tuesday aimed at combatting the COVID-19 pandemic, Senator Richard Burr (R-VA) asked Dr. Fauci, Dr Marks and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky what percentage of their own employees were vaccinated. Both Dr. Fauci and Dr. Marks estimated that around 60 percent of their employees have been vaccinated. Dr. Walensky stated that she was “encouraging employees to get vaccinated”, but was unable to confirm how many have actually done so.

This news comes as CDC announces that fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear masks or social distance in the majority of situations. They have advised people who are not fully vaccinated to continue wearing a mask and practice social distancing. Joe Biden recently tweeted “The rule is now simple: get vaccinated or wear a mask until you do. The choice is yours.”