Pouch "COVID-19 Vaccine Expected by Year-End... Return to Normal Life by Late Next Year"

Anthony Fauci Reveals in Interview as Director of US Allergy and Infectious Diseases Institute

Anthony Fauci, Director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, is testifying at a House COVID-19 Crisis Special Subcommittee hearing held at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on the 31st of last month (local time). (AP=Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ji-hee] Even if a new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine is released by the end of this year, it is analyzed that returning to pre-COVID-19 daily life will only be possible by the end of next year.

Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) under the National Institutes of Health (NIH), who leads the U.S. response to COVID-19, said in an interview with MSNBC on the 11th (local time), "I am confident that a vaccine will be available by the end of this year or early next year," adding, "The majority of the population will be vaccinated and protected only by the end of 2021." He further stated, "If it means returning to the normal level of life before COVID-19, it will be by the end of 2021."

Fauci also urged caution during a meeting with Harvard Medical School professors the day before, saying, "We must get through this fall and winter while hunkering down. It will not be easy," and warned not to let our guard down.

He expressed concern about some states reopening movie theaters, gyms, and hair salons, and allowing indoor dining at limited restaurants. He said, "Indoors absolutely increases the risk (due to such activities)," and added, "Fall and winter will raise even more concerns."

According to a report released the day before by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), among adults who tested positive for COVID-19, the number who reported dining at restaurants in the past two weeks was about twice as high.

Fauci emphasized that the safest way to resume indoor activities is to reduce community transmission to as low a level as possible. However, he added that being outdoors does not prevent transmission either. Regarding political rallies, he stated, "If you do not wear a mask in a crowd, being outdoors does not provide protection."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.