Anthony Fauci, the White House chief medical advisor and director of National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, tells CNBC that he expects the three SARS-CoV-2 vaccines currently in use in the US will receive full approval from the US Food and Drug Administration.
The vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson are available now under Emergency Use Authorizations from the agency, though both Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna have filed for approval.
"The efficacy or the effectiveness in the real world is unquestioned, so we're going to get a full approval," Fauci tells CNBC, noting that it may take time.
Approval for the SARS-CoV-2 vaccines may persuade people who were wary of receiving an unapproved vaccine to become vaccinated, CNCB adds. The New York Times previously noted that having approval may make it easier for r companies, schools, and government agencies to mandate vaccinations.
CNBC spoke with Fauci soon after US health officials met with Pfizer representatives to discuss whether a vaccine booster was needed. Pfizer has said that it is testing a third shot, though health officials have said that the data does not yet support a booster, which Fauci underscored, saying the vaccines "are highly effective."