Fauci: Mask, Vaccine Mandates Needed in Schools

Mask mandates are needed in schools as part of a layered approach to prevent the spread of COVID-19, NIAID Director Anthony Fauci, MD, said during a New York Times event on Thursday.

COVID vaccines could become available for some children under the age of 12 as early as this fall, he said, but until that time, a layered approach is the best defense for keeping students safe.

“First and foremost,” Fauci told Times reporter Apoorva Mandavilli, it’s important “to surround children with people who are vaccinated.”

He added that he is in favor of mandating that anyone who is around children in a school be vaccinated.

The statement came as Los Angeles on Thursday was poised to become the largest school district in the U.S. to mandate COVID vaccines for eligible students.

Adequate testing and improved ventilation also contribute to the layered approach, he said. Eating lunch outdoors, when feasible, may cut down on transmission during a time of the day when adults and children take off their masks and may let their guard down.

As for parents who question why it is taking longer for the FDA to greenlight vaccines for younger children, Fauci said that data for the FDA to review will likely be available from Pfizer in late September.