President Trump has known as on pharmaceutical corporations to justify the success of medicine and vaccines used to battle COVID-19. Trump himself hailed the vaccines as a “modern-day miracle” again in 2020.
JUANA SUMMERS, HOST:
President Trump has known as on pharmaceutical corporations to show the success of vaccines used to forestall COVID-19. In an announcement on social media, Trump wrote, quote, “many individuals suppose they’re a miracle that saved thousands and thousands of lives. Others disagree.” However as NPR’s Kat Lonsdorf reviews, prior to now, 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 had been round 95% efficient.
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TRUMP: This is among the best miracles within the historical past of modern-day medication or every other medication, every other age of medication.
LONSDORF: He stated that each American who needed a vaccine would be capable to get a vaccine. However this morning, lower than 5 years later, Trump appeared to lift doubts in regards to 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 instructed 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 have now…
LONSDORF: Final month, Well being and Human Providers Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime critic of vaccines, minimize $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 protected and proceed to guard folks towards respiratory sicknesses. Kennedy additionally introduced important limits on who shall 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 several 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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