The United States’ top infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, has been held to task by national leaders, local leaders, activists celebrities, and citizens across the country.
But during a special CNN and Sesame Street hour-long special, “The ABC’s of COVID 19: A CNN/Sesame Street Town Hall for Families” on Saturday morning, Elmo and children across the United States asked him perhaps his most tenacious questions, yet.
“How did Santa get the vaccine, and is it safe for him to go in the house?” 8-year-old Lucy, of San Rafael, asked Fauci.
A montage of kids echoed her question.
“What if he can’t go to anyone’s house or near his reindeer?” 6-year-old Paxton of Geneva, Illinois asked.
Dr. Anthony Fauci explains why kids should still wear their masks to protect themselves from Covid-19, even if other family members get vaccinated first. https://t.co/icV04F4FNW #CNNSesameStreet pic.twitter.com/NAttVFoZFt
— CNN (@CNN) December 19, 2020
With a grin reminiscent of old St. Nick himself, Fauci answered the pleas of those kids, whose lives, like many, have been beset by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fauci said, “Well, I have to say I took care of that for you ‘cuz I was worried you’d all be upset. So what I did a little while ago, 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. He can come down the chimney, he can bring the presents, he can leave, and you have nothing to worry about. Santa Claus is good to go.”
Fauci’s words to kids quickly garnered widespread attention and social media share, perhaps calming the fears of many children worried for Santa, Mrs. Claus and their reindeer.
The CNN hosts also wished Dr. Fauci a happy 80th birthday, which, apparently, is Christmas Eve.
â Joe Fitzgerald Rodriguez (@FitztheReporter)
Copyright 2020 KQED