For better or worse, Dr. Anthony Fauci has been a key figure in the United States’ response to the COVID-19 epidemic.
He now appears to be hinting towards retirement.
“I have said that I would stay in what I’m doing until we get out of the pandemic phase and I think we might be there already, if we can stay in this,” Fauci stated. “I can’t stay at this job forever,” he went on. “Unless my staff is gonna find me slumped over my desk one day. I’d rather not do that.”
The White House has hired a new coronavirus coordinator, Dr. Ashish Jha, head of the Brown University School of Public Health, but Fauci’s retirement isn’t imminent. Fauci’s new team member will likely relieve him of some of his pandemic responsibilities.
Fauci continued, “I, unfortunately, am somewhat of a unidimensional physician, scientist, public health person. When I do decide I’m going to step down, whenever that is, I’m going to have to figure out what it is I’m going to do. I’d love to spend more time with my wife and family. That would really be good.”
Fauci examined the potential impact of the Omicron variant BA.2 on current case numbers. “I would not be surprised if in the next few weeks we see somewhat of either a flattening of our diminution or maybe even an increase,” he remarked.
Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla recently stated that for newer COVID strains, a fourth vaccine dosage may be required.
