Dr. Anthony Fauci

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.

Dr. Anthony Fauci predicts giving a vaccine full approval will spur a wave of vaccine mandates in the private sector as well as schools and universities.

Dr. Anthony Fauci said that recommending vaccinated people wear masks is “under active consideration” by the government’s leading public health officials.

Pfizer's plan to seek booster authorization drew a rebuttal last week from the CDC, which said booster shots were not needed “at this time.” However, Dr. Anthony Fauci didn’t rule out the possibility.

All the data so far shows the vaccines are highly effective at preventing serious disease or hospitalization, Dr. Anthony Fauci said. Vaccination is also imperative to preventing mutations, he added.