Santa has ‘innate immunity’ from COVID-19, Fauci tells kids
He can eat lots of cookies and still fit down a chimney. He can deliver gifts around the world in a single night. And he’s immune to the coronavirus.
“Santa is exempt from this because Santa, of all the good qualities, has a lot of good innate immunity,” Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s leading infectious disease expert. told USA Today recently. “Santa is not going to be spreading any infections to anybody.”
The news organization noted Santa has been taking coronavirus precautions, too. “I took a trip up there to the North Pole,” Fauci said during a 2020 “Sesame Street” town hall with CNN when the concern arose. “I went there and I vaccinated Santa Claus myself. I measured his level of immunity, and he is good to go. ... Santa Claus is good to go.”
Santa might be immune from the coronavirus, said Dr. Greg Poland, director of the Mayo Clinic’s Vaccine Research Group, but the elves at the North Pole aren’t. Poland told USA Today there had been two infections among the elves, but “none of them serious.”
“It was a good reminder to the elves about wearing the mask properly. They now do that. It’s mandatory in the North Pole,” Poland said.
“Let’s do the same thing that Santa and the elves are doing. We stay home if we’re not feeling well. When we go outside of the home, we wear a mask and wash our hands,” he said.
Our picks this week
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is your No. 1 source for things to do, see, make, buy and eat through the holidays. Here are our recommendations:
LISTEN: What’s on Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens’ holiday playlist?
DRINK: Here’s the holiday spirit Atlanta’s sipping this Christmas
DO: Seven places to show off your ice skating moves in and around Atlanta
VISIT: Full AJC holiday guide for things to do, buy and enjoy
For our full coverage of holiday events around metro Atlanta, check out the AJC’s Things to Do page.
About the Author
Nancy Clanton is a lead producer for The AJC's platforms team, but also writes stories about health, travel, events and entertainment. A native of Knoxville and graduate of the University of Tennessee, she has worked at the AJC for 24 years.
