Earlier this year, a man was sentenced to more than three years in federal prison for sending Fauci death threats and other violent messages, the first of which included the subject headline: “Hope you get a bullet in your compromised satanic skull today”.
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Days away from retiring from his latest role as President Joe Biden’s chief medical adviser, Fauci took aim at those spreading disinformation about the virus, and warned that “people who take science seriously” need to speak up more, “because the other side that just keeps putting out misinformation and disinformation seems to be tireless in that effort”.
The 81-year-old is also preparing for Republicans – who won control of the House of Representatives in the midterm elections – to potentially haul him into Congress as part of a political probe into his handling of coronavirus.
“I have no trouble testifying,” he told reporters in Washington on Tuesday (Wednesday AEDT). “We can defend and explain and stand by everything that we’ve said. I have nothing to hide.”
Fauci’s comments come as Americans head into the Thanksgiving holiday season this week, and as public health officials express growing concern about the confluence of COVID-19, RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) and an earlier-than-expected surge in the flu.
Dr Anthony Fauci departs after speaking alongside White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, left, and White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator Ashish Jha at the White House.Credit:AP
Only about 13 per cent of adults in the US have so far have received an updated “bivalent” shot that targets the Omicron strain and the original coronavirus, prompting the White House to launch a renewed six-week blitz in the hope of getting more people boosted.
Fauci used his last briefing to make one final plea.
“Please, for your own safety, for that of your family, get your updated COVID-19 shot as soon as you’re eligible to protect yourself, your family and your community,” he said.
Anthony Fauci will step down from public service in December.Credit:AP
As for how he wants to be remembered after all these years?
“I’ve given it everything that I have,” he replied, “and I’ve never left anything on the field.”
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