Fauci Ouchie

Those who are excited to receive the COVID-19 vaccine may refer to it as the Fauci Ouchie. This endearing nickname for the vaccine was inspired by a skit performed on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

Where did Fauci Ouchie come from?

During a musical recap of 2020 (aptly named 2020: The Musical), Jimmy Fallon and actor Andrew Rannells sang the line "Hey yo I trust Dr. Fauci/It's just a little ouchie/And I'm not throwing away my shot!" to the tune of Hamilton's My Shot. Some who watched the recap, including a doctor in Portland, Oregon and a 6-year-old ballet student, took notice of the Fauci/ouchie rhyme and began referring to COVID-19 vaccines as the Fauci Ouchie. The 6-year-old's use of the term went viral on Twitter, which is probably ironic.

Who is Dr. Fauci?

Dr. Anthony Fauci is the director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the U.S. President's chief medical advisor. More relevantly, though, Fauci has served as the public face of the U.S.'s covid response, appearing on television and social media to guide Americans on how they can curb the virus's spread. The nickname Fauci Ouchie recognizes Fauci's position as America's most prominent public health spokesperson - assigning him some credit for America's ability to vaccinate its population.