Dr. Anthony Fauci

In this interview, Dr. Anthony Fauci sheds light on vaccines, variants and a return to normalcy.

The prize committee said Dr. Anthony Fauci, long-time head of the United States' leading infectious diseases research institute, "is the consummate model of leadership and impact in public health."

The administration is in its early days, but the infectious disease expert says he's encouraged by the new president's attitude about the pandemic. Science, Fauci says, is "going to rule."

"This is a national emergency. Four hundred thousand people have died. Everything is on the table across the whole supply chain," said Jeffrey Zients, the White House COVID-19 response coordinator.

Dr. Anthony Fauci and former President Trump butted heads, leading to a public rift between the pair. Fauci says he now feels free to "let the science speak."

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus responded, "Thank you my brother Tony," and thanks also to the U.S. for renewing its support.

In an NPR interview, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the country's top infectious disease expert, said changes in vaccine distribution could be necessary depending on what happens in the next few weeks.

In a virtual town hall for kids on CNN, Dr. Anthony Fauci said he made a trip to the North Pole to get Santa vaccinated for COVID-19. "He is good to go."

Fauci said once the vaccine becomes widely available, if by "April, May, June, July, we get as many people vaccinated as possible, we could really turn this thing around" by the end of 2021.

The president-elect also told CNN on Thursday he would ask Americans to wear masks for the first 100 days of his administration.