Dr. Anthony Fauci has long cited 60% to 70% as the level of COVID infection / vaccination the country would need to achieve immunity to the herd – to fade the disease and bring life back to normal, writes. the New York Times’ Donald G. McNeil Jr.
But, but, but: About a month ago, he started saying ’70, 75 percent ‘in television interviews. And last week, in an interview with CNBC News, he said ’75, 80, 85 percent’ and ’75 to 80 plus percent ‘, McNeil writes.
What’s new: “In a phone interview,” continues McNeil, “Fauci admitted that he had slowly but surely moved the goalposts.”
- “He is doing that, he said, based partly on new science, and partly on his gut feeling that the country is finally ready to hear what he really thinks.”
Fauci’s confession:
“When polls said only about half of all Americans would take a vaccine, I said herd immunity would cost 70 to 75 percent … When newer surveys said 60 percent or more would take it, I thought, “This up a little bit,” so I went to 80, 85. We need some humility here … We really don’t know what the real number is. I think the real range is somewhere between 70 and 90 percent. I’m not going to say 90 percent. “
Go deeper: Continue McNeil’s “How Much Herd Immunity Is Enough?” (subscription.)