Dr. Anthony Fauci, President Joe Biden’s top medical advisor, recently shared with CNN’s “State of the Union” host Dana Bash that people could go out and enjoy trick-or-treating for Halloween later this month. He has already been bashed for giving pandemic precautions for the holidays and now feels the need to give the “okay” for Halloween since it’s an outdoor activity.
“I think that — particularly if you’re vaccinated, but you can get out there. You’re outdoors, for the most part — at least when my children were out there doing trick or treating. And enjoy it. I mean, this is a time that children love. It’s a very important part of the year for children. I know my children enjoyed it,” Fauci said.
He went on to say that if you are not vaccinated, then you should think about adding that “extra degree of protection” to yourself, your children, and the community. He said it is a good time to reflect on what’s important and why you should get vaccinated, as Halloween and other major holidays are right around the corner.
Bash asked Fauci when he thought people who have been vaccinated can ditch wearing their mask indoors, to which he said he “hope that’s soon” but can’t give a prediction of date just yet. It’s a surprise that Fauci is giving advice to trick-or-treaters when he was forced to walk back his remarks regarding Christmas. He emphasized that he would be spending Christmas with his family and encourages people to have a “good, normal Christmas with your family.”
This is just one year after Halloween was labeled “high risk” due to the coronavirus, adding that he is giving the “green light” for the holiday this year. Last year, Fauci advised parents not to go door-to-door, or at least making a face mask as part of their Halloween costume. He’d even advised parents to leave candy at the front door and “minimize contact with strangers.”
Critics pushed back that they don’t need his permission to do anything or celebrate the holidays yet they gave the “green light” for massive violence, riots, a border crisis, and a botched Afghanistan withdrawal.
Fauci went on to discuss the dip in daily COVID-19 cases, adding that he hopes it continues in that “trajectory downward” but that they have to be careful about claiming victory in many respects. While the COVID-19 vaccine has not yet been approved for children under 12, Pfizer has asked for the vaccine’s approval for kids ages 5 to 11.
Some social media users said they don’t have to follow mask-wearing laws and COVID-19 mandates if they are vaccinated, or unless state law requires it. They emphasized how this proves that the coronavirus pandemic is about which state you live in versus the “science” of the virus. For some states, it’s about fear and control. For others, it’s about personal choice. If anyone is still listening to Fauci or thinks his opinions are relevant, then he deserves them. We should be following the advice of our own personal doctors, not some government doctor on TV.
