Dr Anthony Fauci sounds alarm bells for 'bad flu season' as he nears office exit. Read more for details

Anthony Fauci, the medical adviser to President Joe Biden, sent out a warning saying that this winter, the US must prepare to face a 'pretty bad flu season' along with continued Covid 19 cases. His term as the nation’s top infectious disease official will also end at about the same time.

Fauci spoke in an interview on Wednesday where he advised the Americans to get their flu shots as soon as they are available to protect themselves from an upcoming severe wave of flu. He noted that the Southern Hemisphere with experienced new strains of flu before the North was already having a tough than usual season of flu this year.



Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said that early detection of the spike in flu cases in Australia set off the warning signals for the Americans to be prepared to face a potentially severe flu season this fall and winter. This wave shall superimpose the ongoing residual Covid 19 cases. He asked the US to pay attention to these signs.




Fauci recently announced his plans to step down from his post in December. He has had spectacular innings where he advised 7 US presidents over four decades on the outbreaks of infectious diseases ranging from Ebola to HIV to monkeypox.

Immunization and drugs preparedness

New Covid-19 boosters tailored to the latest omicron variants have been cleared by the US Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday. Moderna Inc. has prepared the booster shots, and the partnership of BioNTech SE and Pfizer Inc. Fauci informed that he was comfortable with going ahead with the clearance for these boosters based on the data from animal studies rather than human testing.


The shots will provide additional protection from the bad flu season likely to strike this fall and winter.


Fauci expressed concerns about the low vaccination rates in the US and encouraged people to get the new boosters as soon as they are available.

He remains hopeful that the US shall continue to work on improving existing vaccines and innovative therapies as the covid variants are expected to keep coming as the virus evolves.

The Launch of the Antiviral Program

Last year Fauci launched the Antiviral Program for Pandemics to develop next-generation treatments for Covid and various other infectious diseases. He believes that combination therapies will become necessary to counter drug resistance as the virus evolves.

Fauci has been in touch with drug manufacturers like Pfizer to emphasize the need to test drug combinations, including Paxlovid. NIH will conduct these studies in collaboration with Pfizer, he said.

Fauci’s exit from the post of Medical Advisor

Fauci shall step down from office in December, marking his exit from all his government posts. With this, Fauci shall wrap up his career with the National Institute of Health, spanning more than five decades. Fauci headed the NIAID for a span of 38 years.

Fauci informed that he has decided to go ahead with his plans to step down even in the wake of early warnings of the pandemic worsening. He acknowledged President Joe Biden’s extraordinary support in his decision.


Fauci became a household name during the Covid-19 pandemic and has been notably the most visible of the US scientists. Fauci intends to continue his work in advancing public health and science and spend his time mentoring the next generation of scientists.