On credit for vaccines
In a CNN interview, Dr. Anthony Fauci stated, “When I saw what happened in New York City … that’s when it became very clear that the decision we made on Jan. 10, to go all out and develop a vaccine, may have been the best decision that I’ve ever made.” Conservative talking heads immediately began spinning because Fauci was taking credit for what their ex-president had claimed with his Operation Warp Speed. Jason Miller, a senior adviser to Trump, took to Twitter shortly after the interview aired, and posted, “If it were up to Fauci we still wouldn’t have a covid vaccine.” The question: Who actually deserves credit?
On Jan. 18, 2020, HHS Secretary Alex Azar briefed Trump on the threat of covid-19. On Jan. 22, he dismissed concern and stated, “We have it totally under control.” On Feb. 27, Trump stated that a miracle might make the virus disappear. Trump finally declared the U.S. outbreak a national emergency on March 13, then two months later on May 15, he announced Operation Warp Speed.
During the four-month period before Warp Speed was announced, American biotech firm Moderna began working with scientists from the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, whose director is Dr. Fauci, on a vaccine. Development was started before the first coronavirus case outside China was confirmed on Jan. 13. On Feb. 24, Moderna shipped its first batch of the vaccine candidate for clinical study. The first participant in the study was dosed with the vaccine on March 16, with Dr. Fauci stating, “Finding a safe and effective vaccine to prevent infection with SARS-CoV-2 is an urgent public health priority. This Phase 1 study, launched in record speed, is an important first step toward achieving that goal.”
Credit for swift development goes to Big Pharma companies such as Moderna and medical professionals such as Dr. Fauci who had the foresight to begin development and testing while Trump was still downplaying the virus. History will credit Trump with the multitude of American lives lost because of his neglect. KENNETH WEBER Greenbrier