President Donald Trump hinted on Monday that the United States could approve a coronavirus vaccine in October, ahead of the November election, as Joe Biden demanded transparency from the government while studying vaccines.
“This could have taken two or three years and instead it will be done in a very short period of time,” Trump said during a press conference in which he criticized Biden for his skepticism that the FDA is operating free of pressure. policies.
“He could even have it during the month of October,” Trump added, calling Biden’s doubts “political lies.”
Many public health officials and scientists have expressed concern that the Food and Drug Administration is under pressure from the White House to approve a vaccine before Trump faces reelection on November 3. Americans may not be willing to get an injection if they think they did. they rushed to market according to the campaign schedule.
“The vaccine will be very safe and very effective,” the president said Monday. “And it will be delivered very soon. Now, I could, I could have a big surprise coming up.”
Before Trump’s press conference, Biden said he would heed advice from scientists on the possibility of getting a coronavirus vaccine if one were available before the November presidential election.
“I would like to see what the scientists said,” he told reporters Monday outside a supporter’s home in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
When asked if he would trust Anthony Fauci and the Food and Drug Administration, Biden redirected and said he would “want full transparency on a vaccine.”
Biden has previously raised concerns about President Donald Trump and political appointments pushing for premature approval of a vaccine in hopes of increasing his chances of re-election. “It’s undermining public confidence,” Biden said of Trump.
Trump responded during Monday’s press conference.
Biden and his running mate, Kamala Harris, “should immediately apologize for the reckless anti-vaccine rhetoric they are talking about right now, talking about putting lives in danger and undermining science.”
Biden said he is concerned that Trump’s behavior will harm public confidence if there is an effective vaccine.
“One of the problems with the way he plays with politics is that he has said so many things that are not true. I worry that if we have a really good vaccine, people will be reluctant to take it,” he said.
Biden also said he would want an effective vaccine regardless of the electoral consequences.
“If I could get a vaccine tomorrow, I would,” he said. “If it cost me the election, I would. We need a vaccine and we need it now.”
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