An image shared on Facebook claims National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Director Anthony Fauci referred to young children as “test subjects” during an MSNBC interview.

Verdict: False

There is no evidence to suggest that Fauci made this comment. The NIAID denied Fauci made the remark.

Fact Check

Officials from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced in June that Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine is safe for use in children under five, according to PBS. The vaccine had previously been authorized for children ages five to 11, the FDA stated.

An image shared on Facebook claims Fauci recently referred to children as “test subjects” while discussing COVID-19 vaccinations for children. The image shows what appears to be a screenshot of a news headline that reads, “Fauci Accidentally Refers To American Children As ‘Test Subjects’ In MSNBC Interview.”

“I encourage all 5-11 year old test subjects . . . I mean children . . . to get vaccinated as soon as possible,” reads the alleged subhead. “Slip of the tongue? #truth,” reads the post’s caption. The same image was also shared on Twitter where one iteration garnered over 170 likes.

This image is digitally fabricated. There are no credible news reports or MSNBC interview transcripts that suggest Fauci made such a comment inadvertently or intentionally. No such article appears on MSNBC’s website or the outlet’s verified social media accounts.

 An NIAID spokesperson told Reuters the quote was fabricated. (RELATED: Did The Military Sentence Anthony Fauci To Death?)

This is not the first time misinformation about Fauci has spread online. Check Your Fact previously debunked a viral claim that Fauci endorsed the abolishment of the Second Amendment.