Anthony Fauci (C) and other White House officials meet with President Joe Biden, in the White House in Washington, DC, December 16, 2021. © Reuters / Evelyn Hockstein

Top White House Covid adviser Anthony Fauci has urged Americans to give the cold shoulder to unvaccinated family members, suggesting they not be invited to holiday celebrations due to their immunization status.

Speaking on MSNBC, Fauci said people should avoid seeing their unvaxxed relatives for the holiday season, suggesting get-togethers could resume at another time, when the Covid-19 pandemic is all over. He did not offer any estimate for when that might occur.

I think we’re dealing with a serious enough situation that if there’s an unvaccinated person, I would say, ’I’m very sorry, but not this time,’ he said on Tuesday night, warning ominously that the coronavirus Omicron variant is going to find those who have not received the jab.

Fauci’s holiday advice didn’t end there, however, arguing later on Wednesday that even those who are fully vaccinated and received a booster dose should still avoid larger gatherings involving more than 30 people, as those would put attendees at higher risk regardless of how many shots they’ve had.

The health expert’s comments come after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued its own set of holiday guidelines earlier this month, suggesting Americans get vaccinated and avoid crowded indoor spaces, among other things. The agency stopped short of calling to disinvite unvaccinated relatives to celebrations, however, recommending only that additional precautions be taken.