Dr. Anthony Fauci said Sunday that Americans might “just have to deal with” receiving more COVID-19 booster shots if it becomes necessary.
During his statement, Fauci said that the current booster shot level of protection will have to be monitored over the next few months. He also answered questions from ABC’s George Stephanopoulos.
“If it becomes necessary to get yet another boost, then we’ll just have to deal with it when that occurs,” he added.
Fauci also explained his hope that a third mRNA shot will provide longer-lasting protection against the coronavirus.
“I’m hoping from an immunological standpoint that that third shot of an mRNA and the second shot of a J&J will give a much greater durability of protection than just the six months or so that we’re seeing right now,” he said.
Fauci noted that getting a booster shot could “dramatically” increase one’s protection. “It’s tough to tell because the third shot of an mRNA could not only do what we absolutely know it does, is it dramatically increased the level of protection”.
“But from an immunological standpoint, it could very well increase the durability of protection by things that you can’t readily measure by the level of antibodies that you might have a maturation of the immune system that would prolong the durability,” he added.
As of right now, no booster shot is required to be “fully vaccinated”. Two doses of the Moderna or Pfizer BioNTech vaccines are required, or one shot of the J&J vaccine.