For weeks now, Dr. Anthony Fauci has been fielding questions about Santa Claus and whether Santa can catch or spread the coronavirus. Fauci was being asked about Santa before the vaccines even came out, and his answers were always great. He basically said that he had it on good authority that Santa had a special Covid-immunity and that kids shouldn’t be worried about leaving cookies out for Santa, or gifts left for them by Santa. But now that there are two vaccines out there (Moderna’s vaccine just got approved), Dr. Fauci wants kids to know that he personally visited the North Pole to vaccinate Santa just in case.
Santa Claus may be immune to COVID-19 but he now has an extra layer of protection thanks to Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s leading infectious disease expert. Fauci, who will celebrate his birthday on Christmas eve, told children watching a ‘Sesame Street’ town hall put on by CNN Saturday that he vaccinated Kris Kringle himself.
In the clip, a masked Elmo told viewers that his friend has a question for Santa. Lucy, 8, from San Rafael, California posed a question that is troubling many children this season: “How did Santa get the vaccine and is it safe for him to go in the house?” Connor, 9, from Mount Holly, New Jersey, and Paxton, 6, from Geneva, Illinois, voiced the same question.
“Well, I have to say I took care of that for you because I was worried that you’d all be upset,” Fauci said in response. He explained that he took a trip to the North Pole to visit Santa. “I vaccinated Santa Claus myself,” Fauci said. “I measured his level of immunity and he is good to go.”
Santa is ready to don his red suit and come down the chimney, leaving gifts behind. “You have nothing to worry about,” Fauci assured his audience.
This isn’t the first time that Fauci has said that children should feel safe given Santa’s immunity.
“Santa is exempt from this because Santa, of all the good qualities, has a lot of good innate immunity,” Fauci told USA TODAY in November. “Santa is not going to be spreading any infections to anybody.”
The kids are alright, but I hate that these tiny little kids are now thinking about these things, like immunity and vaccines, “who is a spreader” and mask-wearing. It will take a while to really understand what this year has done to the younger generation. But I absolutely love that Dr. Fauci has always engaged people – even little kids – at their own level. He’s been blanketing the media for months, and he always keeps his message simple: be responsible, wear a mask, social distance, etc. And now, don’t worry about Santa. Santa got the vaccine.
Dr. Fauci’s popularity might have another effect: apparently, there’s a significant spike in medical school applications, and various American medical schools are referring to it as the “Fauci Effect.” I think he’s probably part of it, but I would guess that kids are seeing how doctors can truly save the world and they want to be part of that.
Santa Claus will be coming to town this year, Dr. Anthony Fauci says.
“I took care of that for you,” he says. “…I took a trip up there to the North Pole; I went there and I vaccinated Santa Claus myself. I measured his level of immunity, and he is good to go.” #CNNSesameStreet pic.twitter.com/CNJ520XTew
— CNN (@CNN) December 19, 2020
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.
Omg, that is so cute! Dr Fauci doesn’t look his age! Nice to see something funny and sweet.
I’m a firm believer that the person you are and the life you have lived show on your face over time – Fauci’s goodness, kindness, and humility reflect in his youthful appearance. He has lived his life well – in service to others to the best of his ability. His life has been the definition of honourable – to his profession, his family, and science.
My childhood neighbors were both medical doctors and recently informed my family that they’d worked with Dr. Fauci during their stint at the NIH. Said he is absolutely a wonderful person who will always do the right thing. I strangely get a lot of comfort from Fauci, especially knowing he isn’t seeing his daughters this Christmas out of an abundance of caution. I found out yesterday I have to quarantine and my husband and I will not be seeing my parents (my dad’s birthday is Christmas Eve too!) over the holidays as they are in the geriatric age group. Although I am devastated, again, knowing what Doc is doing and recommending makes me feel better.
I have some family who worked at NIH too, and said the same thing – Fauci is the best!
The headline made me smile and the article made my heart happy. ❤️
Same here. I *love* this man. He is the ONLY one in that cursed Admin. that has integrity, empathy, heart, and soul. As busy and crazed as things are now, that he would take the time to talk TO kids, not AT them, and reassure them in ways they will understand… makes my politically hardened heart melt.
#FauciFanForever here…
I’m pretty sure Fauci’s job isn’t considered a part of the Trump administration. He had it before Trump and he’ll have it after.
Finally, a Covid story that brings smiles. Dr. Fauci is a treasure.
Oh, what a beautiful Christmas story. My kids are practically grown up, so they’ve known about Santa for years, but told me last week, not to worry, they sanitized the chimney so it’s safe for Santa to bring them presents (wink, wink).
So cute. It doesn’t take a lot to show real compassion.
Now especially it is so notable. Such a contrast to Trump standing stiffly and looming bored as kids came to trick or treat at the White House. He couldn’t even fake being a normal POTUS for little kids, which should be the easiest and most fun part of the job.
And this is why Brad Pitt plays him on Snl. He is a national treasure.
He is a wonderful person 😭😭😭 so sweet
Please stop lying to children.
How in the world are parents to now explain why there are no presents?
Santa is fine, so why no gifts!
Because people don’t have money, and now parents have to shoulder the very real problems of paying rent, bills, buying food, with now the added guilt and stress of presents.
This is a horrible thing do to the very real people who are coping with the very real devastation of covid.
Every single person saying sweet and cute and kind this is, is showing their huge amount of privilege and should be ashamed.
ETA: how do you explain to kids that the real people they love aren’t able to get the vaccine yet, but a mythical creature that is solely for the benefit of capitalism, can?
Explain THAT to kids.
Valid point. Many people living on the edge right now. Food and shelter is iffy, no money for gifts. Give give give to the local charities out there that can help out a little.
HC,
Some parents lie to their kids by raising them to believe that Santa, the Tooth Fairy and Easter Bunny are real. Others (like my parents) did not. I was raised celebrating all these holidays with full knowledge that my parents played those roles…and enjoyed it just as much as my friends who believed in these mythical creatures.
It’s each parent/guardian job to explain how what is happening in the world today impacts their household. It is not your place or mine to dictate this.
These are challenging times and many are suffering financially and emotionally. However, not everyone will view this through the same lens you do. I for one found this heartwarming and will not be made to feel ashamed of that.
I’m saving my revulsion for the real life reporting of the ultra wealthy and former government officials who have leveraged their connections to skip to front of the vaccine line. Along with our current dysfunctional Congress not putting the needs of constituents above political ambitions to manage this crisis. There is much to be outraged about these days.
Compassion is welcomed during these tough times.
@Bellah so well said! I have a lot of compassion for what HC is obviously facing but directing our energy at the right source can’t be overstated! Hopefully , income inequality moved up the ladder in our political landscape!
There’s honesty and then there’s “honesty”. Kids have had a hard time of it enough this year with the virus, not being able to go to school, not being able to play with friends and having to adapt to online learning. Kids know that we are living in a very dark time, people are out of work and the virus is still killing thousands a day. Kids are more observant and savvy about current events than their parents give them credit for.
Parents don’t have to jump for the hard to find and expensive Ps5. When I was young, I would have never thought of asking my father for a gift that cost $600. Back in those days, $600 was an astronomical amount and during that same time in the late 70’s we also ran into a recession. Asking for a pair of $15 roller skates or a Barbie doll for Christmas during that era was a stretch.
@Leah God, the gifts kids want are expensive these days, though.
I made the mistake of checking out the “adopt a letter to Santa” or whatever it’s called through the post office. I thought maybe a kid would want a Barbie or something…kids were asking for Nintendo switches, Apple airbuds, MacBooks, and PS5s. Sometimes on the same list! I gave up because the whole thing gave me major anxiety.
It really makes me wonder how the Santa thing can be explained to some of these kids. There might be people who can afford to spend hundreds (if not more) on Christmas, but my husband and I will never be them, and teaching kids that money is no concern as long as they’re good really worries me, ESPECIALLY after seeing those lists.
@Sigmund – We told our kids they get one big gift from Santa and one small gift from Mom and Dad (and the little things in the stockings) and that’s it. So if they asked Santa for 3 big things (meaning expensive) Santa got to pick which one they got, so if they really, really wanted one of them that’s the only gift they should ask for. They also got an allowance every month that was low enough that had to learn how to save money to buy what they really wanted.
About the expensive things the kids were asking for from the donations. Wow! Maybe they were asking for what they knew their parents couldn’t afford to buy them? I usually just get a gift card in an amount I can afford. Sounds like that program needs to put a price limit on what kids ask for so more people can donate.
The way we have done it in my house is that we don’t ask Santa for gifts, we just appreciate the fact that he has brought a present. It’s never anything expensive but it’s always thoughtful.
Never mind.
I’m totally with you about not lying to children. However, I think every parent can determine what lies and truth are appropriate for their child. I have a 9 year old who saw this story and was disappointed in Dr. Fauci. He is supposed to be a man of science, and my son thought it was embarrassing that he had to tell this fib. He still likes to get money from the “tooth fairy” and gifts from “Santa” though.
I understand your point. As a kid I was aware of my parents money problems, and once I figured out who Santa was, I asked for less expensive presents on purpose. My parents had no idea. But I also remember how magical and wonderful it was to believe in Santa. Just the excitement of the story and the anticipation on Christmas Eve. Christmas has become so commercialized that it’s important parents teach kids about the reason for Christmas and have traditions that are more than just gift giving and Santa.
Oh stop. Santa is part of the joy of Christmas for kids, I’m so sick of this ‘stop lying to kids’ crap. Let kids believe and let parents do what they want to. My god this year has been awful enough without taking away the magic of santa too.
Other side of the argument: if we are lucky we will get the vaccine in April or May. That means my kids will have been stuck inside, not interacting with their friends, for a year. They didn’t have birthday parties, go out to eat, go to the movies or literally do anything. They couldn’t go out trick or treating. My daughter has outgrown Santa but my son still believes and this is the one thing he can still have. He told me he doesn’t care what Santa gives him, he’s not asking for anything, and it can be small. He just wants to be remembered. I think my son is so desperate to hold on to something normal this year that, at age ten, he is still deep into his Santa belief and is clinging on with everything he has. I’m very grateful for Fauci and am going to let my son know because Covid and Santa discussions have been going on in this house for over a month.
I don’t think it is possible to love this man anymore than I do.
I just love him. So happy he’ll be working with the Biden team. Merry Christmas, Dr. Fauci. You are a godsend.
While income inequality and lack of resources is a very big deal indeed, this isn’t required viewing. Part of a parent’s job is to screen what kids see – they aren’t playing this on virtual learning lessons so I hear your viewpoint, but parents aren’t forced to show their kids this clip. Like the Santa story, it’s up to each family to decide what is real and what isn’t. As for gifts, your kid might ask for a PS5, but that doesn’t mean you have to give it. Every single kid I knew had a Nintendo or Atari growing up except us because my parents were just trying to keep our little house and have food for us to eat – and we survived. 🙂
After reading some of these comments I have to wonder about the parenting from some of the kid’s wishlists. Holy entitlement! My children know we are fine financially but that they won’t be getting stupidly expensive stuff so don’t even bother asking. The charity thing with the expensive stuff blows my mind.
Awww ❤️ that Fauci effect thing is so cool!