Science over politics
President Trump is once again toying with science in his bid to dodge blame for the coronavirus crisis he’s worsened. He’s promoting convalescent plasma taken from recovered patients as a curative therapy, a “very historic breakthrough” in his judgment.
Here’s hoping it proves out, Mr. President. But it’s nothing close to a sure thing or a provable advance. There are preliminary signs that the plasma from former patients can pay off in blocking infection. But it’s risky and even dangerous to promote the indications as a triumph.
Trump is plainly desperate for good news, especially as the GOP convention rolls forward. But the public shouldn’t be taken in. Scientists and federal researchers are intrigued by the plasma therapy potential but not ready to promote it until trials and further testing bears it out. That’s the way science works.
Adding to the confusion is Federal Drug Administration commissioner Stephen Hahn backpedaling from the golden promises that Trump leaned on. Just as disquieting as
Trump’s overpromotion is his whipsaw treatment of the agency at the center of the pandemic fight. On Saturday he maligned the pace of vaccine and therapy work at the agency, tweeting about “deep state” malefactors who may be to blame.
In the midst of global virus outbreak, the president is throwing out QAnonflavored conspiracy nonsense.
There’s a bigger risk ahead. By overdoing it on plasma therapy and smearing the FDA, he’s sending the wrong message to a confused public. If earlyon cures don’t pan out or the FDA’s reputation is questioned, then future treatments will be doubted. The damage is already being felt: Fewer than half of the country is presently willing to get a vaccine shot if it were free and available.
It may be aggravatingly slow, but a better approach is letting researchers fan out to do their job. That means lab work, trials and safety measurement. But that timetested path is directly at odds with an impulsive, politically weakened White House. Scientists need to stay on course.