Biden says Trump must answer these 3 questions about coronavirus vaccine development
After a virtual briefing Wednesday with public health experts on developing and distributing a coronavirus vaccine, former Vice President Joe Biden, the Democratic presidential nominee, said President Trump must answer three questions about the process, otherwise Americans shouldn't trust his word if one receives federal approval in the not-so-distant future under the current administration.
Biden wants to know "what criteria will be used to ensure that a vaccine meets the scientific standard of safety and effectiveness," as well as "who will validate that the decision" to green light a vaccine "was driven by science rather than politics." Finally, Biden demanded Trump explain how "the distribution of the vaccine will take place safely, cost-free, and without a hint of favoritism."
Later on Wednesday, Trump repeated calls for Biden "to stop promoting his anti-vaccine theories."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Biden and his running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), would likely bristle at being labeled anti-vaxxers, although both have expressed concerns that the Trump administration is rushing a vaccine for political purposes. But they've also suggested that if the scientific community independently promotes the safety and efficacy of a vaccine candidate, they'd receive the inoculation. "Let me be clear," Biden said Wednesday. "I trust vaccines, I trust scientists, but I don't trust Donald Trump." Read more at Axios.
-
Political cartoons for January 18Cartoons Sunday’s political cartoons include cost of living, endless supply of greed, and more
-
Exploring ancient forests on three continentsThe Week Recommends Reconnecting with historic nature across the world
-
How oil tankers have been weaponisedThe Explainer The seizure of a Russian tanker in the Atlantic last week has drawn attention to the country’s clandestine shipping network
-
Why Greenland’s natural resources are nearly impossible to mineThe Explainer The country’s natural landscape makes the task extremely difficult
-
Iran cuts internet as protests escalateSpeed Reada Government buildings across the country have been set on fire
-
US nabs ‘shadow’ tanker claimed by RussiaSpeed Read The ship was one of two vessels seized by the US military
-
Maduro pleads not guilty in first US court hearingSpeed Read Deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores pleaded not guilty to cocaine trafficking and narco-terrorism conspiracy
-
Iran’s government rocked by protestsSpeed Read The death toll from protests sparked by the collapse of Iran’s currency has reached at least 19
-
Israel approves new West Bank settlementsSpeed Read The ‘Israeli onslaught has all but vanquished a free Palestinian existence in the West Bank’
-
US offers Ukraine NATO-like security pact, with caveatsSpeed Read The Trump administration has offered Ukraine security guarantees similar to those it would receive from NATO
-
Hong Kong court convicts democracy advocate LaiSpeed Read Former Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai was convicted in a landmark national security trial
