Watch: CNN Asks Fauci About Not Being ‘Straight With The American People’ on Number Needed for Herd Immunity

CNN host Dana Bash pressed Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, on Sunday over recent remarks that he made about the percentage of the population that would have to receive the COVID-19 vaccination for the U.S. to reach herd immunity.

“In the pandemic’s early days, Dr. Fauci tended to cite the same 60 to 70 percent estimate that most experts did,” The New York Times reported last week. “About a month ago, he began saying ’70, 75 percent’ in television interviews. And last week, in an interview with CNBC News, he said ’75, 80, 85 percent’ and ‘75 to 80-plus percent.’”

The Times reported that Fauci said during an interview that he thinks that up to 90 percent of the population might need to be vaccinated for the U.S. to reach herd immunity.

“Fauci said that weeks ago, he had hesitated to publicly raise his estimate because many Americans seemed hesitant about vaccines, which they would need to accept almost universally in order for the country to achieve herd immunity,” the Times added. “Now that some polls are showing that many more Americans are ready, even eager, for vaccines, he said he felt he could deliver the tough message that the return to normal might take longer than anticipated.”

On Sunday, Bash pressed Fauci on the issue and asked him why he was not “straight with the American people about this to begin with.”