Covid-19 advisor Fauci says he feels liberated to speak on science under Biden
WASHINGTON (AFP, REUTERS) – In his first White House briefing as President Joe Biden’s top advisor on Covid-19, Dr Anthony Fauci said it was “liberating” that he could focus on science without fear of repercussion now that Mr Donald Trump had left office.
Dr Fauci said based on recent seven-day averages, coronavirus infections may be about to hit a plateau in the United States.
The top infectious disease scientist was briefing reporters on Thursday (Jan 21) on the state of the US outbreak that has claimed more than 408,000 lives.
Asked to compare his experience under the previous administration to the new one, the 80-year-old responded a little coyly at first, saying he wasn’t sure he could “extrapolate” based on first impressions.
“But one of the things that was very clear as recently as about 15 minutes ago, when I was with the president, is that one of the things that we’re going to do is to be completely transparent, open and honest.
“If things go wrong, not point fingers but to correct them and to make everything we do be based on science and evidence.”
Towards the end of Thursday’s briefing, Dr Fauci was asked by another reporter to expand on his “jokes” about the differences in the management styles between the two leaders.
“I was very serious about it, I wasn’t joking,” he said, laughing.
“Obviously I don’t want to be going back over history, but it was very clear that there were things that were said, be it regarding things like hydroxychloroquine and other things like that – that really was uncomfortable because they were not based on scientific fact.”
He added he took no pleasure in having to contradict the president and that “it was really something that you didn’t feel that you could actually say something, and there wouldn’t be any repercussions about it.”
“The idea that you can get up here and talk about what you know. What the evidence, what the science is, and know that’s it – let the science speak – it is somewhat of a liberating feeling.”
Dr Fauci’s honest takes on America’s failures to get to grips with its epidemic brought him into conflict with Mr Trump, who repeatedly declared premature victory over the virus, equivocated on mask use and lockdowns, and pushed unfounded miracle cures.
Mr Trump eventually banished the respected scientist from the White House and took to attacking him on Twitter.
Covid-19 has spiraled out of control for months in the United States even with a massive vaccination campaign underway. The US death toll has exceeded 400,000.
Dr Fauci also said coronavirus vaccines can be modified to account for new variants of the virus, and that while the South Africa variant is concerning, it does not appear to be in the United States. Another highly-transmissible variant of the virus first discovered in the United Kingdom has spread to at least 20 US states, Dr Fauci said.
Dr Fauci said he expects current vaccines will be effective against the recently discovered virus mutations.
“Bottom line: we’re paying very close attention to it for our alternative plans if we have to ever modify the vaccine,” he said. “But right now, from the reports we have … it appears that the vaccines will still be effective against them.”
The United States still has a limited ability to track the presence of new variants in its population, he added. Dr Fauci said President Joe Biden’s plan to speed Covid-19 inoculations, including setting up community vaccination centres and involving more local pharmacies, improves on the Trump administration’s rollout.
He added that Mr Biden is deploying the Defence Production Act to help vaccine manufacturers, including Pfizer Inc, Johnson & Johnson and Moderna Inc, scale their production.
Most Americans will likely be vaccinated by the middle of this year, Dr Fauci said, though he added he remains concerned about the amount of people who are hesitant to get a vaccine.
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