Fauci says he "would support" mandating COVID vaccine for air travel

• An administration official later clarified to Axios that Fauci, who is the president's chief medical adviser, meant that he would support a mandate.

"The solution we have at our hands is vaccines," Fauci says in the video.

Why it matters: Fauci's comments come on the heels of President Biden's announcement of a six-pronged plan to curb the spread of the virus, including aggressive mandates on vaccinations and testing.

• Some airlines — like United, Frontier and Hawaiian — have already begun requiring their workforce, but not passengers, to inoculate themselves against the virus.

Worth noting: White House coronavirus response coordinator Jeff Zients said the administration is "not taking any measures off the table" at a briefing last week when asked if the administration is considering a mandate for air travel.

• “Overall, I think we have a very strong track record that shows that we’re pulling available levers to require vaccination."