President Trump has referred to as on pharmaceutical corporations to justify the success of medication and vaccines used to combat COVID-19. Trump himself hailed the vaccines as a “modern-day miracle” again in 2020.
JUANA SUMMERS, HOST:
President Trump has referred to as on pharmaceutical corporations to show the success of vaccines used to forestall COVID-19. In a press release on social media, Trump wrote, quote, “many individuals suppose they’re a miracle that saved hundreds of thousands of lives. Others disagree.” However as NPR’s Kat Lonsdorf studies, previously, Trump celebrated the vaccines.
KAT LONSDORF, BYLINE: Again in December of 2020, Trump stood at a podium in entrance of docs, scientists and politicians…
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PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: We’re right here to debate a monumental nationwide achievement.
LONSDORF: …And introduced that each Pfizer and Moderna, two main drug corporations, had developed COVID-19 vaccines that have been round 95% efficient.
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TRUMP: This is likely one of the best miracles within the historical past of modern-day drugs or every other drugs, every other age of drugs.
LONSDORF: He mentioned that each American who wished a vaccine would be capable of get a vaccine. However this morning, lower than 5 years later, Trump appeared to boost doubts concerning the effectiveness of these very vaccines on his social media platform, demanding corporations like Pfizer make data and outcomes out there to the general public. It is unclear precisely what data he is speaking about. NPR reached out to each Pfizer and Moderna for remark however neither responded instantly. When requested for clarification, White Home spokesperson Kush Desai informed NPR that, quote, “the one driving precept of well being decision-making on this administration is gold customary science.”
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ROBERT F KENNEDY JR: Hello, it is Robert F. Kennedy Jr. right here, your HHS secretary. At HHS we now have…
LONSDORF: Final month, Well being and Human Companies Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime critic of vaccines, reduce $500 million in funding for mRNA vaccines, successfully halting the development of the know-how behind the present COVID vaccines.
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KENNEDY: The HHS has decided that mRNA know-how poses extra dangers than advantages for these respiratory viruses.
LONSDORF: However consultants say that is simply not true. There’s overwhelming proof that mRNA vaccines are very secure and proceed to guard folks towards respiratory sicknesses. Kennedy additionally introduced vital limits on who will probably be eligible for COVID vaccines final week, which added to per week of chaos on the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention after director Susan Monarez was pressured out and a number of other others resigned in protest. As Trump posted about vaccines this morning, a number of former CDC leaders from each Republican and Democratic administrations revealed an op-ed in The New York Instances. In it, they expressed critical concern that Kennedy and his insurance policies are endangering the well being of Individuals.
Kat Lonsdorf, NPR Information, Washington.
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