During my time as Vice President, I worked closely with Dr. Anthony Fauci on the United States’ response to Zika and Ebola. I came to know him as a dedicated public servant and a steady hand of wisdom and insight, raised over decades at the helm of some of our most dangerous and challenging public health crises. When it came time to build a team to lead our response to COVID-19—in fact, on one of my first calls as President-elect—I immediately asked Dr. Fauci to extend his service as my Chief Medical Advisor to deal with the COVID-19 crisis facing our nation. In that role, I’ve been able to call him at any hour of the day for his advice as we tackle this once-in-a-generation pandemic. His dedication to his work is unwavering and he does it with unmatched spirit, energy and scientific integrity.
Dr. Fauci has served under seven Republican and Democratic presidents during his career, starting with Ronald Reagan. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2008 under President George W. Bush. For nearly four decades, he has served as Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, helping our country navigate health crises ranging from HIV/AIDS to COVID-19. Due to the many contributions of Dr. Fauci for public health, lives here in the United States and around the world have been saved. As he leaves his position in the US government, I know that the American people and the world will continue to benefit from Dr. Fauci in whatever he does next. Whether you’ve met him in person or not, he has touched the lives of all Americans with his work. I am deeply grateful for his public service. The United States of America is stronger, more resilient, and healthier because of it.
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