Fauci: Politics is the reason Canada has surpassed U.S. on COVID vaccines | CBC News

It’s also prompted some finger-pointing within the U.S.

One person making apparent his increasing frustration with developments in the U.S. is Anthony Fauci, director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

He was asked in a CNN interview what happened and why Canada had surpassed the U.S. in the rate of first and second doses despite the U.S.’s months-long head start.

Fauci blamed politics in the U.S.

“Canada is doing better not because we are trying any less than they are trying. It’s because in Canada you don’t have that divisiveness of people not wanting to get vaccinated, in many respects, on the basis of ideology and political persuasion,” he replied.

“I mean, political differences are totally understandable and a natural part of the process in any country. But when it comes to a public health issue, in which you’re in the middle of a deadly pandemic and the common enemy is the virus, it just doesn’t make any sense….

“That’s a public health issue. That’s not political. That’s not ideological. It’s a public health issue.”

What’s the context

Americans are increasingly worried that resistance to getting vaccinated is driving a case surge in pockets of the country.

In particular, counties and states that vote Republican have the lowest vaccination rates and are suffering the hardest impact from the delta variant.

Fauci said 99.5 per cent of all the deaths due to COVID-19 in the U.S. are now among unvaccinated people, with fully vaccinated people accounting for just 0.5 per cent.

But for over a year now, the conversation about COVID has been swamped in partisan politics, something Fauci has personal experience with.

In Florida, the state’s Republican governor, touted as a possible 2024 presidential candidate, has been selling a “Don’t Fauci My Florida” T-shirt, as he resists calls for vaccine passports and vaccination requirements. His state is now a COVID hotspot again.

Watch: Woman whose husband died of COVID-19 urges the vaccine-hesitant to get shots:

Michele Preissler of Pasadena, Md., whose husband died of COVID-19 in May, pleads with those who might be reluctant to get the coronavirus vaccine to learn from her experience and not wait to get immunized. 0:30

Meanwhile, right-wing news outlets regularly feature guests who question vaccine effectiveness or who criticize various public vaccination efforts as heavy-handed. 

In a separate interview, Fauci said polio would still exist if the country had dealt with past vaccines this way.

What’s next

Some personalities on Fox News pleaded this week for viewers to get vaccinated. 

The latest case spike has roiled stock markets, and cast a cloud over plans to reopen international travel. For months, U.S. lawmakers had been pushing Canada to ease travel restrictions. 

Now Canada is, indeed, relaxing those restrictions, with further easing on Aug. 9. And it’s unclear when the U.S. might do the same for land travellers. The U.S. never stopped cross-border air travel.

U.S. lawmakers now frustrated with own government

The White House was non-committal when asked Monday whether it will follow Canada’s move when the latest monthly travel rule lapses in the middle of this week. 

“Any decisions about reopening travel will be guided by our public health and medical experts,” White House spokesperson Jen Psaki said.

“We take this incredibly seriously. But we … are guided by our own medical experts. I wouldn’t look at it through a reciprocal intention.”