President Trump has known as on pharmaceutical firms 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 known as on pharmaceutical firms to show the success of vaccines used to stop COVID-19. In an announcement 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 firms, had developed COVID-19 vaccines that had been round 95% efficient.
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TRUMP: This is without doubt one of the best miracles within the historical past of modern-day medication or every other medication, every other age of drugs.
LONSDORF: He stated that each American who wished 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 firms like Pfizer make data and outcomes accessible 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 advised NPR that, quote, “the one driving precept of well being decision-making on this administration is gold normal science.”
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ROBERT F KENNEDY JR: Hello, it is Robert F. Kennedy Jr. right here, your HHS secretary. At HHS we’ve got…
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 expertise behind the present COVID vaccines.
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KENNEDY: The HHS has decided that mRNA expertise poses extra dangers than advantages for these respiratory viruses.
LONSDORF: However specialists 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 important limits on who will likely 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 compelled 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 Occasions. In it, they expressed severe concern that Kennedy and his insurance policies are endangering the well being of Individuals.
Kat Lonsdorf, NPR Information, Washington.
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