Dr Anthony Fauci wins US$1 million prize for ‘defending science’ in coronavirus crisis
- Dan David Prize was awarded to Fauci for his work during the coronavirus crisis, among other things
- Prize committee commended Fauci for ‘his exceptional contribution to HIV research’
Dr Anthony Fauci has won the US$1 million Dan David Prize for “defending science” and advocating for vaccines now being administered worldwide to fight the coronavirus pandemic.
The Israel-based Dan David Foundation on Monday named US President Joe Biden’s chief medical adviser as the winner of one of three prizes. It said he had earned the recognition over a lifetime of leadership on HIV research and Aids relief, as well as his advocacy for the vaccines against Covid-19.
In its statement, the private foundation did not mention former president Donald Trump, who undermined Fauci’s follow-the-science approach to the pandemic. But it credited Fauci with “courageously defending science in the face of uninformed opposition during the challenging Covid crisis.”
“As the Covid-19 pandemic unravelled, (Fauci) leveraged his considerable communication skills to address people gripped by fear and anxiety and worked relentlessly to inform individuals in the United States and elsewhere about the public health measures essential for containing the pandemic’s spread,” the foundation’s awards committee said, praising Fauci for “speaking truth to power in a highly charged political environment”.
Fauci, 80, has served seven presidents and has been the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases since 1984.
In recent interviews, Fauci has acknowledged that it was difficult at times to work for Trump, who repeatedly played down the severity of the pandemic, dismissed the need for mask-wearing and often touted unproven scientific remedies, including injecting disinfectant.
Trump resented Fauci’s flattering press coverage and revelled in calls to “Fire Fauci!” at some of his rallies. But Fauci outlasted Trump, who lost the November election.