Pence: U.S. ready to beat virus
Fauci says FDA’S efforts will allay any concerns on vaccines
WASHINGTON — Vice President Mike Pence convened the White House’s first coronavirus task force briefing in months Thursday, where he offered an upbeat assessment despite a surge in cases and hospitalizations.
America “has never been more prepared to combat this virus than we are today,” Pence said, flanked by Drs. Deborah Birx and Anthony Fauci.
Fauci said he “wants to settle” concerns about a coronavirus vaccine. Fauci said that the Food and Drug Administration will study the data thoroughly before it approves any emergency use of a vaccine and he wants to “put to rest any concept that this was rushed in an inappropriate way. This is really solid.”
Fauci said that while “help is on the way” with a vaccine, it’s time for the American people to wear a mask, avoid crowds and do things as much as possible outdoors rather than indoors.
As Pence ended Thursday’s briefing, he ignored shouted questions as to whether he acknowledged the election result and about whether not cooperating with the transition was endangering American lives by not delivering vaccine information to President-elect Joe Biden’s incoming administration.
Biden met Thursday with governors from both parties and criticized Trump’s attempt to block the transition of power, saying it was hindering the flow of information about programs to develop a coronavirus vaccine.
“Unfortunately, my administration hasn’t been able to get everything we need,” Biden said during a video conference with the National Governors Association’s leadership team, which consists of five Republicans and four Democrats.
Biden spoke about distribution of a vaccine once one is ready, saying, “There has to be a prioritization.”
“That’s why I’d like to know exactly what this administration has in mind in terms of their Operation Warp Speed and how they plan it,” he said of the Trump White House. “And that’s what we talked about with the governors today. They all mentioned the need to focus on the communities that have been left behind.”