The Omicron subvariant known as BA.5, considered the most contagious form yet, prompted the White House last week to unveil what it styled as a new pandemic strategy, though it looked a lot like the old strategy.
Pandemic lockdowns, misinformation campaigns, conflicts, climate crises and other problems diverted resources and contributed to the largest backslide in routine immunization in 30 years.
The director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the face of the U.S. pandemic response, Dr. Fauci had mild symptoms after testing positive on Wednesday.