A Requirement Would Be “Reasonable To Consider” Says Top Medical Advisor
Anthony Fauci, the President’s Chief Medical Advisor, has suggested his support for possible vaccination requirements for domestic air travel.
Fauci made the statements will speaking to MSNBC. It should be noted that as of now, there are no vaccination requirements for domestic travel, and his statements in no way suggested that new requirements were coming.
As the US and the rest of the world struggles to contain outbreaks of the new fast spreading variant, named Omicron, Fauci stated it would be “reasonable to consider” a vaccine requirement for domestic travel as well as international.
The Omicron variant has caused chaos this week, leaving thousands of flights canceled over the Christmas break. Flight crew numbers are being decimated by the mutated COVID-19 virus. Although the severity of the infection appears to be less than previous iterations, the infection rate is incredibly high, prompting concerns over hospital overloads.
Studies estimate that the Omicron variant could be as much as three times more transmissible than the Delta strain, and, regardless of high end air filters on planes, passengers are at a much higher risk of contracting the virus. The Omicron strain currently takes up 70% of the countries new infections – a worrying number considering the estimated 109 million travelers crossing the country this Christmas and New Year.
Fauci’s statements suggest using the vaccination requirement as more of an incentive than a directly protective measure for the airline industry. In another interview, he said When you make vaccination a requirement, that’s another incentive to get more people vaccinated. If you want to do that with domestic flights, I think that’s something that seriously should be considered.”
As of December 2nd, President Biden had stated that he would not be implementing any domestic vaccination policies on travel, but the swift spread and shifting suggestions from his medical, advisor could spell a chance in the future.
Several cities have already implemented their own vaccine restrictions. Boston, Washington, D.C, and New York City all now require proof of vaccination to eat at indoor restaurants, visit museums, go to the movie theatre, and work out in gyms.
Other countries, like Austria, have gone much further in their pushes, and have now made it a rule that all citizens must be fully vaccinated by a certain date. Austria requires a full dose by February or citizens will face the risk of a fine. It is unlikely the US would adopt such policies, but specialized mandates may help push skeptical citizens to getting the vaccine. Fauci compared a mandate on domestic flights to similar mandates in workplaces and other other institutions.
Fauci also doubled down on mask usage on planes, stressing the continued use of the divisive protection shouldn’t be up for debate. In the past weeks, several airline CEO’s have publicly questioned the efficacy of masks, although they have quickly backtracked either directly or on social media.
Concerns about the technicalities of a vaccine requirement were raised by journalists questioning the White House Press secretary, Jen Psaki. She admitted that the implementation fo such policies could cause flight delays, but would be willing to commit to it “the health impact was overwhelming”.
Fauci declined to confirm if he was officially recommending the restrictions to the Oval Office to avoid any potential image of discord between the POTUS and his advisers.
Travelers are strongly advised to keep abreast of any changes in restrictions over the coming weeks and to anticipate travel disruption.
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Silvia Von lindemann
Tuesday 28th of December 2021
Why is criminell fauci still trying to rule?he should be already in prison.whats going on ?
Dennis Mahood
Tuesday 28th of December 2021
Ok Biden just said yesterday that there was on solution from the Federal government on the Virus it was up yo the states, so Fuaci has no say in it.
Stephan
Tuesday 28th of December 2021
Go, Liberty, go! Waiting every day for his posts as they are always so ridiculous that they make me laugh. My daily dose of entertainment 🤣
Liberty
Tuesday 28th of December 2021
Fauci belongs in prison for crimes against humanity. He has been harming people longer than most realize.
The brandon regime would love to mandate injections for plane travel. Thing is, it's highly unconstitutional to do so and we have these pesky things called rights. Doesn't mean they won't try, just like they have tried the other mandates.
john
Tuesday 28th of December 2021
@Liberty, The people who should be in prison are ones peddling unfounded conspiracy theories and total quackjobs (I think I know a few on this site).
This is a very common sense proposal. By the way, your "rights" stop at the point when it concerns public health and the safety of those all around you. We call anything less than that selfishness. Flying is a privilege, not a right, and if you choose to be unvaccinated, then you also choose to be denied boarding.
Tax Payer
Tuesday 28th of December 2021
@Liberty, you doofus, where does the constitution expand upon flying on an airplane. If you don't want to be vaccinated, that's fine, but you can drive or walk.
Dee
Tuesday 28th of December 2021
Let's all cross our fingers this happens! If you're not going to be part of the solution, then you should get privileges stripped. While previous case law supports interstate travel as a constitutional right, it absolutely does not mean and guarantee access to domestic airlines. Time for the unvaccinated to start driving across the US, IMO.
Dee
Wednesday 29th of December 2021
@jenny,
I don't disagree with a lot of the premise of your argument; however, most studies have shown unvaccinated transmit at a higher viral load. There has been a study or so that are inconclusive, but by far and large, most of the peer-reviewed studies show this. And that unvaccinated individuals are contagious for a longer period of time.
Until this is officially declared an endemic, unvaccinated individuals should be subject to more scrutiny and stricter measures.
This has been mostly an issue that has unnecessarily been politicized since its inception. If the unvaccinated want to weaponize politics, then the government should respond by measures such as this.
jenny
Wednesday 29th of December 2021
@Dee, what solution are you talking about exactly?
Cases doubling in Europe after two years of this beginning do not suggest a solution.
A whole chunk of vaccinated people are having a change of heart with governments mandating a third shot when the first two didn't work.
The only thing that is for sure is that governments are taking on a totalitarian face under the guise of being utilitarian in nature.
In the meanwhile business owners suffer, people from the lower social classes suffer, crimes and prostitution in developing countries are on the rise, depressed people and domestic violence are increasing as well due to lockdowns, and etc etc etc.
Let's not conveniently dismiss all off this under the pretense of doing my "social duty". Your social duty is towards society as a whole. Not just your niche or social class.