Fauci Laments Low US COVID Vaccine Uptake Despite High Rates in Other Areas

Anthony Fauci recently voiced disappointment with the United States' COVID vaccination rate. Speaking at an event titled "Why HIV still has no vaccine: Dr. Fauci & Dr. Corey explain the science," held by the SubSpace at the Museum of Science, Fauci said the country aimed for 72 percent vaccination coverage but fell short.

"If the vaccine was accepted by society, if we didn't have an anti-vax problem, we would have a much much more effective vaccine distribution in this country," Fauci said. "I mean, if everybody universally accepted that this was a safe and effective vaccine, we were trying to get 72% of the population vaccinated and we never really got there. Whereas other countries got 85-90% vaccinated. So I think it depends on the country."

Fauci called it unacceptable that Americans received second and third boosters while people in the developing world awaited first doses. "That's different than the inequity that you have globally, which I think is more of a problem," he said. "We had people getting their second and third booster before people in the developing world were getting their first shot. That's just unconscionable."

Fauci played a key role in advocating those boosters, after earlier stating the two-dose series offered strong protection against severe outcomes. Developing countries often have younger populations, such as in Africa, facing lower COVID risks than elderly people with comorbidities in the US or Western Europe.

The CDC at first recommended vaccinating teachers and transit workers ahead of those aged 65-74 to address racial and ethnic health inequities.

Fauci linked higher vaccination to better COVID control, citing other countries' success due to less anti-vaccine sentiment. Australia reached over 90 percent vaccination among those over 16 by late 2021, with hospitalizations jumping from nine in early February 2021 to 3,101 by early January 2022. Australian media described a "tsunami of COVID" with grave hospital warnings.

Denmark achieved over 90 percent adult vaccination by early September 2021 and enforced a vaccine passport system for access to hairdressers, tattoo parlors, cinemas, theaters and gyms. Media praised it as a victory over the virus, but cases soon hit record highs.

In the US, Montgomery County, Maryland, near Washington, D.C., had nearly 85 percent fully vaccinated and over 90 percent with at least one dose by late 2021, plus a mask mandate. Hawaii saw peak COVID deaths after over 90 percent of seniors were vaccinated. Maine and Vermont experienced sharp rises despite high vaccination rates.

Fauci made these remarks this week, more than six years into the pandemic and nearly five years after vaccines became available.