On Monday, the Dan David Foundation, Israel announced that Dr. Anthony Fauci, was one of the recipients of its three prizes. He won the prize for “defending science” and his recent efforts to fight the coronavirus and for encouraging vaccinations against the virus.
He earned the prize for his work on HIV research and AIDS relief. His lifetime leadership and his advocacy for vaccines against COVID-19 were also mentioned. The statement also gave him credit for his courage in defending science despite severe opposition during the COVID-19 crisis.
The Dan David Prize was established in 2000. It gives $1 million awards to recipients in three categories annually for their contributions and achievements in the past, present and future.
The foundation said that Fauci was named for his achievement in the “present” in the field of public health. Professors Alison Bashford, Katharine Park and Keith Wailoo won the “past” category for their achievements in the field of history and health medicine. Professor Zelig Eshhar, Dr. Carl June and Dr. Steven Rosenberg, pioneers of an anti-cancer immunotherapy, won the “future category.”
Although the foundation did not mention former president Trump directly, it did praise the 80-year old Fauci for “speaking truth to power in a highly charged political environment.”
Dr. Anthony Fauci is the director of the National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases from 1984. He has worked with seven presidents of the United States.
In recent interviews he has said that it was difficult to work under the former president. President Trump used to make things uncomfortable for him by making statements that “were not based on scientific facts” or would listen to the advice of his nonscientific friends rather than the federal health authorities.
Although he said that he took “no pleasure” in contradicting the former president he said that Biden’s election was “liberating.”
With this achievement, Dr. Anthony Fauci follows another famous U.S. recipient of the Dan David Prize, former Vice President, Al Gore.
