In a recent interview with the New York Times Dr. Anthony Fauci stood by his decisions during the coronavirus pandemic, but also admitted to making mistakes and missteps along the way.
In the interview with The New York Times, the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases said that while some of the guidance provided by public health officials turned out to be wrong, those missteps were a result of the constantly evolving evidence surrounding the pandemic.
“Communication in pandemics is difficult under the best of circumstances,” Fauci told the outlet. “What has been so troubling to me as a health official is when you are dealing with a moving target, the evidence is evolving and new data becomes available, but you get so many different people with their own sets of data that are not real data, but even in a perfect world, it would not be easy.”
Dr. Fauci went on to say that the intensity of the “culture wars” had a significant impact on public health guidance, especially when it came to the issue of masking. Fauci initially told the public that wearing masks would not be necessary, but later changed his position.
🇺🇸 Fauci – LIED UNDER OATH🇺🇸
They also LIED about EVERYTHING else.
We know, they know it.
Greatest crime against humanity EVER. pic.twitter.com/DVGgHHCcQ9
— Concerned Citizen (@cotupacs) April 19, 2023
When asked if his shifting stance on the issue may have sowed distrust in the American public and contributed to vaccine skepticism, Fauci said he was “uncertain” but acknowledged that it added fuel to the culture war fire.
Fauci then blamed America’s independent nature for the skepticism some people have towards public health guidance on vaccines. He believes that the “beautiful independent streak” in the country becomes counterproductive in such situations. He also admitted that COVID-19 mandates have contributed to anti-vaccine sentiments across the United States, though he still stands by his public health recommendations.
