US officials show support for COVID vaccine mandates amid surge

The nation is now averaging more than 100,000 new cases per day as the highly contagious Delta variant continues to spread.

The top infectious disease expert in the United States and the head of the nation’s second-largest teachers’ union have expressed support for local coronavirus vaccine mandates, as the US grapples with a surge in infections, hospitalisations and deaths. Dr Anthony Fauci, the White House’s chief medical adviser, said he expects local entities such as colleges and businesses to impose vaccine mandates once the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issues final approval of COVID-19 jabs. That is something some sceptics have said they need before they will be inoculated.