Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, testifies at a Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee hearing at the Dirksen Senate Office Building on July 20, 2021 in Washington, DC.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, testifies at a Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee hearing at the Dirksen Senate Office Building on July 20, 2021 in Washington, DC.
Stefani Reynolds-Pool/Getty Images
  • Dr. Anthony Fauci said he supports the idea of mandating vaccinations for air travel, according to an upcoming interview with The Skimm.
  • Fauci's comments come less than a week after President Biden announced a vaccine mandate for federal employees.
  • Approximately 63% of all Americans have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, according to the New York Times' vaccination tracker.
  • See more stories on Insider's business page.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the longtime director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, says he would support a vaccine mandate for air travel within the United States.

"I would support that if you want to get on a plane and travel with other people then you should be vaccinated," he said in an podcast interview with The Skimm, which is set to air later this week.

Fauci's suggestion is not unheard of: Requiring a vaccine for air travel is supported by the majority of Americans. A Gallup poll taken in August found that 61% of respondents supported vaccines for flying.

The director of the NIAID also noted in The Skimm interview that the US is likely to reach "herd immunity" status if the "overwhelming proportion of the population" gets vaccinated. His comments come less than one week after President Joe Biden announced a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for federal employees, healthcare workers, and companies with over 100 employees.

Biden's vaccination mandate drew the ire of GOP officials who accused the president of overstepping the government's authority – several Republican governors announced their intention to sue the Biden Administration over the new requirements.

Approximately 63% of all Americans have received at least one dose, including at least 93% of seniors age 65 and up according to the New York Times' COVID-19 vaccination tracker.

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