Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infections Dr. Anthony Fauci seems invigorated and ready to re-engage after being tapped by the Joe Biden administration to be the leading expert in the fight to tame COVID-19 in the United States.

He is at the forefront of the drive to administer 100 million vaccines in 100 days and is letting everybody know that this mission can be accomplished.

Biden has made him the government’s chief medical adviser and he will be standing beside the President at all major briefings on COVID-19.

What a difference a few months make!

In the early part of autumn he was sidelined by then President Donald Trump, who talked about removing him from his post. He no longer appeared at presidential press briefings on COVID-19 and had to be careful what he said in fear that he would pay the price for contradicting the President.

Where Dr Deborah Birx was compliant, Fauci was intelligently defiant, always pointing to the science. When Trump and other government officials took a lax approach to mask wearing and social distancing, he insisted that these measures would assist in limiting the spread of the virus.

When Trump talked about herd immunity and that the summer heat would make  the coronavirus go away,  Fauci remained circumspect. When Trump talked about injecting the body with disinfectant and the power of hydroxychloroquine, Fauci didn’t drink the Kool-Aid and warned against going that route.

Now, with a new boss who has his back, he even looks fresher and younger. The shackles have been removed and science is being brought to the task at hand.

Talking about the approach taken by the new administration, Fauci said: “One of the new things in this administration is: if you don’t know the answer, don’t guess. Just say you don’t know the answer. One of the things that was very clear as recently as about 15 minutes ago when I was with the President is that one of the things that we’re going to do is to be completely transparent, open and honest if things go wrong.

“Not point fingers but to correct them and to make everything we do be based on science and evidence.”

Everything based on science and evidence. The inability to address COVID-19 with this mindset was the failure of the Trump administration in its efforts to reduce the number of infections and deaths in the United States from this pernicious disease. Fauci was a voice in the wilderness with many people fearing retribution if they went the way he did.

This speaks to character. Many people will not speak up in fear of losing their jobs, even though the boss is wrong and way over their head. They choose to subsume, forgoing what they know to be right in order to keep that pay cheque coming. Some people are brave, some are cowards, but the world keeps turning.

The world has not seen a pandemic of this magnitude for over a century, and if it is to be quelled and hopefully eradicated, that will have to be done by the application of science and technology. This now allows America to restake its claim to be the science capital of the world, demonstrating its resolve in banishing this vicious virus that has claimed millions of lives across the world and halted life as we know it.

Fauci is that knight in shining armour come to vanquish the monster. Science is his goodness, his fortress, his high tower and deliverer. It is his shield and it is science in whom he trusts.

You have to have faith and trust in who you and what you are all about at all times, no matter what. Fauci embodies this and stood firm even when censured by Trump.

Reflecting on the Trump administration’s efforts to contain the virus, Fauci remarked: “It was very clear that there were things that were said, regarding things like hydroxychloroquine and other things, that really was uncomfortable because they were not based on scientific fact. I can tell you, I take no pleasure at all in being in a situation of contradicting the President.”

There are bosses who delight in making you know they are running the show and that you have to dance to their tune. More often than not, under closer examination, they turn out to be plonkers and you have to remain true to your code. Sure, sometimes you have to be diplomatic and the wiser course of action is to hold your tongue, but not always.

In this regard, it is insightful what Fauci had to say about going about his work under Trump.

“You didn’t feel like you could say something and there wouldn’t be repercussions.”

Speaking of working for the new sheriff in town, he added: “It’s somewhat of a liberating feeling.

“The idea that you can get up here and talk about what you know, what the evidence, what the science is and know that’s it, let the science speak, it is somewhat of a liberating feeling.”

Good for you Dr Fauci, and that is why you are my Man of The Year.