Dr. Anthony Fauci, the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, recently addressed President Biden’s age and his potential bid for re-election. During an appearance on ABC’s “This Week,” Fauci was asked whether Biden, who is 81 years old, should consider running for a second term. Fauci emphasized that the decision is a personal one and should be based on individual circumstances.
Fauci, who played a pivotal role in the nation’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, stressed the importance of evaluating each person individually. He noted that factors such as how they feel, what they believe they can accomplish, their passion, and their energy levels are crucial in making such a decision.
Reflecting on his interactions with Biden, Fauci described them as “very positive.” He praised Biden for asking probing questions and being on point with various issues. Fauci refrained from commenting on the political implications of Biden’s recent debate performance, which had been widely criticized by the media. Instead, he focused on his personal experiences with Biden, highlighting the president’s engagement and attentiveness.
Biden’s debate performance, marked by a raspy voice and occasional lapses in thought, raised concerns among some Democrats and media outlets. In the aftermath, editorial boards from The New York Times and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution called for Biden to step down as the Democratic nominee. Despite this, the Democratic National Committee has reaffirmed its support for Biden.
Fauci’s comments come at a time when the nation continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic. In a recent address, President Biden outlined the progress made in combating the virus and the challenges that remain. He emphasized the importance of vaccination, masking, and expanded testing to turn the tide against COVID-19, particularly the highly contagious Delta variant.
Biden highlighted the significant strides made since he took office, including a substantial increase in the number of fully vaccinated Americans and a notable decrease in COVID-19-related deaths. However, he acknowledged that the country is still in a tough stretch, largely due to the unvaccinated population. Biden described the current situation as a “pandemic of the unvaccinated,” pointing out that nearly 80 million eligible Americans have yet to receive the vaccine.
The president also criticized elected officials who undermine efforts to combat the virus, accusing them of contributing to the spread of COVID-19 and the resulting hospitalizations and deaths. He announced new measures to increase vaccination rates, including requiring employers with 100 or more employees to ensure their workforces are fully vaccinated or undergo weekly testing.
Biden’s plan also extends vaccination requirements to healthcare workers and federal employees. He signed executive orders mandating vaccinations for all executive branch federal employees and federal contractors. Additionally, the Department of Labor will require employers to provide paid time off for workers to get vaccinated.
The president’s comprehensive plan aims to protect vaccinated individuals, keep schools open, and support the economic recovery. He called on large entertainment venues to require vaccinations or negative tests for entry and urged family physicians to encourage their patients to get vaccinated.
Biden addressed the frustration and anxiety felt by vaccinated Americans, assuring them that they are highly protected from severe illness. He emphasized the importance of booster shots to enhance protection and announced that the distribution system is ready to administer them as soon as they are authorized.
To keep children safe and schools open, Biden urged parents to vaccinate their eligible children and called on governors to mandate vaccinations for teachers and staff. He also announced measures to increase testing availability and affordability, including the use of the Defense Production Act to boost the production of rapid tests.
Biden’s plan includes steps to protect the economic recovery, such as expanding the COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan program and providing additional support to small businesses. He also announced the deployment of more military health teams to assist hospitals and an increase in the distribution of monoclonal antibody treatments.
In closing, Biden reiterated his commitment to ensuring equity in the response to COVID-19 and highlighted the U.S.’s efforts to combat the virus globally. He emphasized the importance of continuing to fight the virus both at home and abroad, noting the significant contributions the U.S. has made in donating vaccines to other countries.
Source: ABC’s “This Week”, The New York Times, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, WhiteHouse.gov
