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Fauci hopes FDA will begin giving full approval to COVID-19 vaccines
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FILE PHOTO: Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. /VCG

FILE PHOTO: Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. /VCG

The U.S. government's top infectious disease expert Dr. Antony Fauci on Sunday said he hoped the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will start giving full approval to the coronavirus vaccine by the end of August.

The FDA has only granted emergency-use approval of the Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines. The agency is expected to soon give full approval to Pfizer.

Fauci, who spoke to local broadcaster NBC News, predicted that the prospective move would encourage a wave of vaccine mandates in the private sector in addition to schools and universities.

The administration of President Joe Biden has previously said the federal government will not mandate vaccinations beyond the federal workforce, but is increasingly appealing state and local government and businesses to consider such mandates.

Fauci said "mandates at the local level need to be done" to help contain the spread of the virus.

Fauci's comments come as the Biden administration is weighing what levers it can push to encourage more unvaccinated Americans to get their shots as the delta variant continues to surge through much of the United States.

(With input from agencies)

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