U.S. approval of COVID-19 shots could boost vaccination numbers, Fauci says

Anthony Fauci, director of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, suggested that full approval of COVID-19 vaccines by the FDA could boost vaccination rates, as reported in Fidelity.

Currently, the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna two-dose vaccines and Johnson & Johnson's one-dose shot have emergency-use authorisation from the FDA.

Fauci said that full approval may reduce fears about the safety of the vaccines and make local officials more comfortable about implementing vaccine mandates.

Fauci added that formal FDA approval would give physicians the ability to prescribe a third dose of the vaccine to people with weakened immune systems on an off-label basis.

Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna have filed with the FDA for full approval for their vaccines, while Johnson & Johnson has not yet made such a request.

"Given what we've been through now and the number of months that have gone by since the (emergency-use authorisation), I would hope that within the very reasonable period of time in the future we'll see that. I hope as we get into the middle of August that we're almost there," Fauci said.