Dr. Anthony Fauci says he wishes former President Donald Trump would use his popularity among Republicans to persuade his followers to get the COVID-19 vaccine. In a round of interviews on the morning news shows, the government’s top infectious disease expert lamented polling showing that Trump supporters are more likely to refuse to get vaccinated. Fauci said politics needs to be separated from “commonsense, no-brainer” public health measures. He said it would be a “game changer” for the country’s vaccine efforts if Trump used his “incredible influence” among Republicans.

Andrew Harnik/AP
National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Dr. Anthony Fauci, left, accompanied by President Donald Trump, speaks about the coronavirus during a news conference in the press briefing room at the White House, Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

Posted at 9:22 AM, Mar 14, 2021
and last updated 2021-03-14 14:36:51-04
Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.