Science Vs Podcast: Dr. Fauci On The Omicron Variant

In the latest episode of Science Vs, host Wendy Zukerman talks with
Dr. Anthony Fauci about the Omicron variant and what listeners need to know about the newest variant of COVID-19. 

 Omicron cases are beginning to crop up throughout the United States, and with more questions than answers about the potentially dangerous variant, Dr. Fauci joins Wendy to provide some clarity. 

Key highlights are below:

● Dr. Fauci shares his thoughts with on the new travel ban:

○ “When we first saw and heard about what was going on in South Africa, we really were blind. We had no idea what was going to happen. And one of the things we wanted to do, which is understandable, was to best as possible, protect the American public. So that ban went on for South Africa and surrounding countries. I don't like the idea about bans, but as long as it's temporary, you know?...We did not know it was in other countries at the time of the ban. It looked like it was just in South Africa.”

○ "But right now...it is out there, so it's going to spread no matter what. So that's the reason why I would feel that hopefully we can pull back on that ban as quickly as possible."

● Dr. Fauci shares his thoughts on those refusing to get the vaccine:

○ “Something has got to happen, I hope, to get people to realize that this is not a political football here. This is the safety and the health of the American public and the world.”

○ “And what we really do have is a profound degree of divisiveness in our country where people are not getting vaccinated merely because they want to show that they cannot get vaccinated if they don't want to get vaccinated, which is, you know, really not the time to manifest your individuality. You know, do it and use another channel to show what an individual you are.”

○ “...the idea when you have 780,000 Americans have already died from COVID 19, the idea — the science is so clear -- that vaccines are highly effective and safe...And yet the thing that's so stunning about it is that when you have people like me and my colleagues, pleading with people to wear a mask or to get vaccinated that that results in death threats. You know...what's going on in this country? You know, you know, harassing your family and your wife and your children because you're out there telling people they really need to get vaccinated. Boy, there's something really wrong in this country when that happens.”

● Dr. Fauci on why he told Senator Rand Paul he didn’t know what he’s talking about

○ “It just got to the point that I don't want to waste time having to respond to all that nonsense. But every once in a while, when people step over the line, you've got to call them on it. I mean, you know, when you get somebody like Rand Paul saying, I'm responsible for the death of five million people at a Senate hearing, I mean, that is totally off the wall. Way out there. So I had to call him on that…”

● Dr. Fauci on the future of the pandemic and how he believe this will end:

○ “I don't think we're going to eliminate it like we've done with polio and measles. But I do think we can get a much greater element of control than we have right now. And having 95,000 new cases a day is not the level of control that I'm talking about.”

○ “We've got to by vaccination, by masking, by boosting. We've got to get that level to a very, very low level to the point where it does not interfere with our lifestyle. It doesn't become the dominant thing we all talk about. It doesn't impact negatively our economy. It doesn't inhibit kids from feeling safe at school. That's what I'm talking about by a level of control where we could put this behind us and have it in the rearview mirror…”

○ “...theoretically, we should do much better than even the flu with the interventions and the countermeasures that we have.”
 

Science Vs is now in its 11th season and continues to decipher facts from myths. In an age of rampant misinformation, Science Vs strives for accuracy and scientific credibility while not afraid to sometimes conclude, "the data shows we're not sure."

Hosted by Australian science journalist Wendy Zukerman, Science Vs is successful because of two primary reasons. First, Zukerman’s good-natured humor topples listener expectations about what a science podcast should sound like. Second, the unique mission of the podcast --using scientific investigative techniques to separate fact from myth – sparks interest, controversy and insight.

In a post-truth world, Zukerman and her team of scientific detectives take on incendiary topics in today’s zeitgeist, such as gun control, vaccinations, climate change, organic food, and even blue balls. 

 

You can listen here.