Washington: President Donald Trump’s administration helped deliver vaccinations against the coronavirus earlier than president. However, this is the first time that Donald Trump is staying away from the limelight and not taking any credit. However, his aides are hoping that this achievement remains a key part of his legacy.
Trump launched ‘Operation Warp Speed’. It was the government campaign to help swiftly develop and distribute vaccines. The programme was launched this spring with great fanfare in the White House Rose Garden.
But now, five days into the largest vaccination campaign in the nation’s history, Trump has held no public events to trumpet the rollout. He hasn’t been inoculated himself. He has tweeted only twice about the shot.
Vice-President Mike Pence, meanwhile, has taken centre stage – touring a vaccine production facility this week. He is also preparing to receive a dose himself on live television Friday morning. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell both said Thursday that they will get vaccinated in the next few days.
Trump’s relative silence comes as he continues to stew about his defeat in the November 3 election. He’s pushed aside the plans of aides who wanted him to be the public face of the vaccination campaign. He has also refused to host efforts to build public confidence in the shot.
The sheepish approach has been surprising, especially for a president rarely shy to take credit, said Lawrence Gostin.
“The president’s relatively low profile on the COVID-19 response since the election is curious and counter to Mr Trump’s own interests,” Gostin said. Gostin has criticised Trump’s handling of the pandemic in the past but said he ‘deserves a great deal of credit’ for ‘Operation Warp Speed’. “Having exhibited leadership in the vaccines’ development, Trump should take great pride in publicly demonstrating his trust in COVID-19 vaccines,” added Gostin.
Trump did appear at a White House ‘summit’ ahead of the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of the Pfizer vaccine last week. But that was all he did. Many Trump aides are puzzled by his low profile now that the vaccine is actually being injected. They see it as a missed opportunity for the president. They feel he should take credit for the speedy development of the vaccine which can to finally contain the virus that has killed more than 310,000 Americans.
Trump himself has tried to minimise any credit that might go to his successor, President-elect Joe Biden. The latter will preside over the bulk of the nationwide injection campaign next year.
“Don’t let Joe Biden take credit for the vaccines,” Trump has told reporters. “Don’t let him take credit for the vaccines because the vaccines were me. I pushed people harder than they’ve ever been pushed before,” he had said. 0
Trump’s low-key approach could have an impact on public health. Dr Anthoni Fauci told ‘NBC News’ this week that 75% to 85% of the nation needs to be vaccinated to achieve ‘herd immunity’. So making the public education campaign about the vaccine’s safety is all the more pressing.
According to guidance from the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, there is not yet enough information to determine whether those who have had COVID-19, like Trump, should get the vaccine. Still, Fauci recommended that Trump take it publicly without delay.
“Even though the president himself was infected, and he has, likely, antibodies that likely would be protective, we’re not sure how long that protection lasts. So, to be doubly sure, I would recommend that he get vaccinated as well as the vice-president,” Fauci told ‘ABC News’.