Misinformation, political ideology will make the next pandemic far worse than COVID: Fauci

By Ciara Linnane

'It's astonishing to me that so many people, by political ideology, could make a decision that would actually endanger their lives'

The next global pandemic is likely to be far worse than the COVID-19 crisis for one tragic reason, according to the infectious-disease expert who was the face of the U.S. government's public-health response to the pandemic.

'I'm very concerned that the misinformation and disinformation about what's absolutely scientifically proven, lifesaving preventions now. ... It's astonishing to me that so many people, by political ideology, could make a decision that would actually endanger their lives.' Anthony Fauci, former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and former chief medical advisor to the president

That's the view of Anthony Fauci, the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and chief medical officer to President Biden from 2021 to 2022.

Fauci, who has since retired, has advised seven U.S. presidents over a 40-year career in public health. In an interview on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" program on Tuesday morning, he conceded that politics has always meant some level of disagreement - but nothing like what we're seeing now.

Even when Republicans and Democrats argued previously, "there was always respect for institutions. Now, in the last few years, that's sort of disappeared," Fauci said.

"Instead of having diversity of option, we have profound division and vitriol," he added.

One of the most significant consequences of that division is the impact it has had on vaccine uptake, with many Americans - especially those in more conservative states - increasingly reluctant to get vaccines, including ones that have been safely administered for decades.

"If you look at red states versus blue states, there are more deaths and hospitalizations in red states," Fauci said. "It's horrible that people suffer and die because of misinformation that's related to ideology."

Fauci defended his record and that of other public-health officials, who were accused of "flip-flopping" during the pandemic on issues such as the need to wear face masks and socially distance.

"What we needed to do better was to let people understand that we were dealing with a moving target," he said. "Science is self-correcting."

As experts learned more about the virus, they were able to change their advice and recommendations, he noted.

-Ciara Linnane

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06-18-24 1345ET

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