Fauci says the US is emerging from 'full-blown pandemic phase of COVID-19'

 National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases director Dr. Anthony Fauci said that the U.S. is emerging from "the full-blown pandemic phase of COVID-19," according to the Financial Times.

"As we get out of the full-blown pandemic phase of Covid-19, which we are certainly heading out of ... decisions will increasingly be made on a local level rather than centrally decided or mandated. There will also be more people making their own decisions on how they want to deal with the virus," Fauci said, according to the outlet.

"There is no way we are going to eradicate this virus," Fauci said. "But I hope we are looking at a time when we have enough people vaccinated and enough people with protection from previous infection that the Covid restrictions will soon be a thing of the past."

Fauci told the outlet that the need for vaccine booster shots will vary from person to person, suggesting that a healthy 30-year-old may require a shot each four to five years.

"It will depend on who you are," he said, according to the outlet. "But if you are a normal, healthy 30-year-old person with no underlying conditions, you might need a booster only every four or five years."

Fauci has served as director of NIAID for more than three decades and is the chief medical advisor to President Biden.

He has been a prominent and polarizing public health figure throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

The campaign of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) is capitalizing on the negative views some Americans have of Fauci by selling "Freedom Over Fauci" flip flops that carry the message, "Fauci Can Pound Sand."