Anthony Fauci

Experts weigh in as the federal government urges everyone to get boosted amid concerns over omicron, a new covid variant.

The individual returned from South Africa on Nov. 22 and had mild symptoms. Cases have been found in more than 20 countries, less than a week after the worrying new variant was first identified.

President Biden said that while restrictions imposed on travelers from several nations in southern Africa would slow the variant's entry, the U.S. will eventually see cases.

Johns Hopkins' dashboard reports 771,045 deaths since the pandemic began. According to the CDC, 385,343 deaths occurred last year, which would mean 385,702 have happened so far this year.

Dr. Anthony Fauci says people should go out and enjoy Halloween but those not vaccinated for COVID-19 should consider doing so for the “extra degree of protection.”

With the back and forth on boosters from government agencies, many Americans are wondering if they really need an extra shot. Here is what the science says about who needs a booster now — and why.

"It really doesn't impact me or anyone else," Gov. Ron DeSantis said about whether a person gets vaccinated. "Yeah, that's not true at all," Fauci said in response on Tuesday.

The FDA and CDC are awaiting critical data before signing off on the third doses, with Moderna’s vaccine increasingly seen as unlikely to make the Sept. 20 date.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's leading infectious disease expert, tells NPR's Morning Edition "it is so imminent to make sure that we get them boosted so that they would be in a protected zone."

"We are in a major surge now as we're going into the fall, into the school season. This is very serious business," Fauci said. He urges states and localities to mandate COVID-19 vaccines for teachers.