Sen. Rand Paul tells Dr. Fauci he's not the "end-all"

Sen. Rand Paul on Tuesday told Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Dr. Anthony Fauci that he is not the "end-all."

While delivering remarks at a Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing, the Kentucky Republican, who himself previously tested positive for COVID-19, said that throughout the pandemic there have been many incorrect predictions.

"And really the history of this when we look back will be of wrong prediction after wrong prediction after wrong prediction, starting with Ferguson in England," Paul said. "So I think we oughta have a little bit of humility in our belief that we know what's best for the economy."

"And as much as I respect you Dr. Fauci," Paul continued, "I don't think you're the end-all. I don't think you're the one person that gets to make a decision. We can listen to your advice, but there are people on the other side saying there's not going to be a surge and that we can safely open the economy. And the facts will bear this out." 

The senator spoke about low fatality rates among children and warned that if children do not return to school "poor and underprivileged" children who do not have parents who can engage in home education will go uneducated next year. "I think it's a huge mistake if we don't reopen our schools in the fall," Paul said.

Fauci responded to Paul's remarks, noting that he does not consider himself the "end-all" and that he only gives advice on health-related issues. He also cautioned that much is unknown about the illness and that it is not fully understood how children are impacted by the virus.

"I have never made myself out to be the end-all and only voice in this," Fauci said. "I'm a scientist, a physician and a public health official. I give advice according to the best scientific evidence. I don't give advice about economic things, I don't give advice about anything other than public health."