Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden says he would be skeptical of any vaccine developed and approved under President Donald Trump’s tenure.
Business owner Kelly Leigh, who says she is an undecided voter, noted that Democratic Vice Presidential nominee Kamala Harris said she would not take a vaccine if Trump told Americans to take it.
Leigh asked Biden if he would take a vaccine if it was approved by the end of the year, and if he would issue a mandate to require people to be vaccinated if he became president.
“Two things. Number one, President Trump talks about things that just aren’t accurate about everything from vaccines, we’re going to have one right away,” Biden said.
He continued, “The point is, that if the body of scientists say that this is ready to be done, and it’s been tested, they’ve gone through the three phases, yes I would take it and I’d encourage people to take it.”
Biden blasted Trump for touting an experimental drug cocktail manufactured by Renegeron as a potential cure for the virus,
The former vice president noted that the companies working on developing a coronavirus vaccine are “making real progress.” He added that he meets with scientists at least twice a week to learn about the progress being made on a vaccine.
Still, he said, “They’re not there yet. And most scientists say it’s not likely to have a vaccine, that would be available, until the beginning of next year … into the spring of next year.”
Undecided PA voter asks former VP Biden if a vaccine was approved before the end of the year, would he take it?
— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) October 16, 2020
He says if it's gone through testing and it's backed by scientists then "Yes. I'd take it and encourage people to take it." https://t.co/vdomLZXGTS #BidenTownHall pic.twitter.com/5vDw3EB8uE
Biden and Harris have repeatedly raised concerns that Trump may put politics in front of the public health and push for the development and approval of a vaccine that is not safe — or does not work.
During the vice-presidential debate, Harris was asked if she would take a vaccine developed by the end of the year. She said, “If the public health professionals, if Dr. [Anthony] Fauci, if the doctors tell us that we should take it, then I’ll be first in line to take it.”
“But if Donald Trump tells us that we should take it — then I’m not taking it,” she added.
Biden has previously said it is important to raise questions about a potential vaccine developed by the end of the year because “he doesn’t have any respect for scientists.”
“It’s necessary so people can trust the vaccine. And that’s why I said that you have to have this board of scientists that are going to say ‘this is why we think this is a good vaccine, why it’s approved.’ And it has to be total transparency,” he added.
Still, he has maintained that if scientists give a vaccine the green light, he would get vaccinated.
Trump has repeatedly suggested that a coronavirus vaccine could be available by the end of the year. However, scientists — including the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — estimate that the earliest a vaccine would be available is February of 2021.