“You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can not fool all of the people all of the time.” Abraham Lincoln
Lincoln was right - this is why it is hard to trust anything that comes out of the Trump Administration.
I find it daunting less than half of all Americans are willing to take the coronavirus vaccine once it finally comes out. There is a lot of skepticism regarding the efficacy of it, but in lieu of the past four years I can understand why. Now, I fully intend to take the vaccine, but I will look at the science and data backing it up before I proceed. In the end, it seems the only prudent thing to do is to take the vaccine if it has solid data backing it up and is safe.
I know I will feel more assured once President Elect Joe Biden is in office. I think many Americans will have greater confidence in The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) once it is under Biden’s administration. Unlike Donald Trump and his “Operation Warp Speed” plan, one can’t help but worry over the fact he has presented a number of so-called “ideas” in haste, that were dangerous unacceptable misnomers in treating the coronavirus.
There seems to be two camps of people who are not willing to take the vaccine. The first camp is more prevalent among Trump supporters who have bought into his constant baloney the coronavirus is no big deal. Even today there are far too many who still believe in this false mantra of his. Under this camp you also have those individuals who typically do not believe in getting a flu shot each year, either because they do not trust its’ efficacy or they are just lackadaisical about it.
The second camp consists of those who are suspicious of a vaccine with the Trump Administration stamp of approval of it. I fall into that camp. Like I said, I definitely plan on taking the vaccine, but I consider anything from the Trump Administration suspect. Why? Because how many agencies and people who have been appointed by Donald Trump that is either corrupt or grossly incompetent? I will listen to the scientific and medical experts; not the political experts like Mike Pence.
Consider the head doctor Trump recently appointed over the Coronavirus Task Force, Scott Azar – a radioneurologist. Yeah, I mean a radioneurolgist sounds like one who would have in depth knowledge of infectious diseases (I’m being facetious here). This guy is real character who urged the people of Michigan to rise up against Gretchen Whitmer for issuing mask mandates. I believe he also urged this stance to be taken in other states as well.
Even his own alma mater, Stanford University publically passed a resolution against him for erroneously downplaying the coronavirus and providing false and misleading information that could result in harm. Stanford University also asserted Atlas used his position politically to promote falsehoods and dangerous behaviors among the American public. In their resolution they commented, “Atlas’s “disdain for established medical knowledge violates medical ethics defined by the American Medical Association,” and “Atlas's “behavior is anathema to our community, our values, and our belief that we should use knowledge for good.”
How can any person on this planet blame someone else for being skeptical of anything that spawns forth from the Trump Administration? When Trump leaves the Oval Office, he would take with him over 20,000 documented lies out the door with him. In my opinion, out of all the torrential flood of lies that came froth his mouth (oh, I meant forth); the lies about the coronavirus are the most serious.
The lie I deem most detrimental to all of America was when he called the coronavirus a hoax. Even to this very day with over 12+ million cases in the U.S., and over 260,000 deaths there are supporters of him claiming the coronavirus is a hoax. At one point Trump even retweeted a tweet posted by game show host Chuck Woolery, proclaiming the coronavirus was a hoax. Woolery later recanted his tweet after his son actually contracted Covid-19.
From the onset Donald Trump has downplayed the coronavirus, so I will always be suspicious of him, Mike Pence, Atlas, and his other cronies on the task force. I do believe in Dr. Anthony Fauci, however, at times I thought he could had came out a little harder against Trump’s stances. But I do realize he was facing extremely difficult circumstances, and I suspect he knew if left no one would ever get the truth. Anyone who is privy to whims and tirades of Donald Trump is likely to be in an untenable situation.
Governor Andrew Cuomo has faced unwarranted criticism for his decision to have an in state house review of the efficacy and safety of any vaccine that comes out before distributing it to New Yorkers. I don’t blame him – remember he is dealing with an administration that has repeatedly lied to the American people literally hundreds of times. Cuomo said “We’re going to put together our own group of doctors and medical experts to review the vaccine and the efficacy and the protocol and if they say it’s safe, then I’ll go to the people of New York and I’ll say it’s safe with that credibility.”
Cuomo is not alone in his decision to have scientific and medical experts examine the data before any vaccine is distributed. Six other states desire independent examiners of the data as well; California, Colorado, the District of Columbia, Michigan, Oregon and West Virginia. Montana and Wyoming said they will only distribute a vaccine that has an independent review and completed clinical trials.
I can’t see how anyone can blame the governors of these states after the circus performances put out from the Trump administration on a daily basis. Governor Cuomo raised a valid point regarding the FDA authorizing an emergency use of hydroxychloroquine. This is the drug at one time Donald Trump was proclaiming from the roof tops was a miracle cure for Covid 19. Subsequently after a short time, the drug was not only found to be ineffective against the coronavirus, it was proven it could lead up to serious heart conditions.
Lynn Sutfin, a spokesperson from the state of Michigan, expressed the intention of Michigan’s Department of Health and Human Services to have an independent evaluation of the data. Sutfin said, “Before making decisions on the distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine in Michigan, we would need to evaluate the efficacy and safety data regarding any approved vaccine,” she said in an email. “We would hope there would be transparency at the federal level regarding that data so we can make an informed decision.” I believe that is completely reasonable as time and time again the agencies under the Trump Administration have proven themselves to be negligent and untrustworthy.
A spokesperson for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment stated the following; “Colorado will review data and information included with any potential vaccine identified for distribution. This will include reviewing an Emergency Use Authorization designation from the FDA and information gained from the clinical trials.” States are understandably leery over pathological liar Trump’s claim of a vaccine being produced at warp speed.
When you consider the things that have come out of Donald Trump’s mouth regarding the coronavirus, it is difficult to accept anything he says. When he is talking, there is a 99.9% chance he is telling a lie. Below are some examples.
- He initially claimed the coronavirus was like the flu - false.
- He claimed young people could not catch it - false.
- At one time he touted hydroxychloroquine as a cure for the coronavirus – false.
- He claimed 99% of all cases of the coronavirus were harmless - false.
- At one time he suggested people ingest disinfectant to kill the coronavirus – false.
- He suggested a high dose of light may kill the virus in the body – false.
So when this administration comes out and says they have a vaccine – it is extremely hard to disregard all the lies they have told in the past.
It is unlikely the independent reviews within any state would resort in a long drawn out processes that would potentially delay the vaccine being administered. Dr. Anthony Fauci has expressed some concern over that, however, if the pharmaceutical companies deliver information in a timely manner ahead of distribution of the vaccine, this should not be an issue. I believe the states will analyze the data and reports quickly to see if it is sound and subsequently begin administering the vaccine.
The FDA and CDC have proven themselves to have sold out to political pressure a number of times throughout the past 8 months. I lost all faith in the CDC when they came out and stated if you have been around an asymptomatic person with Coivd-19, you will not need to be tested unless you develop symptoms. Any given person should recognize the absurdity of such a position.
Eventually the truth came out, however, pressure was put on Robert Redfield by the Trump administration to make this false assertion and render it as part of the CDC’s guidelines. Dr. Anthony Fauci disagreed with their position as well, and ultimately the CDC reversed their stance. At one time the CDC claimed the coronavirus was not even airborne, but reversed that position as well.
No, my trust in the CDC is quite is limited, and hopefully with the Biden administration they will in time repair the agency’s credibility. The coronavirus being a novel virus will inevitably result in changes in hypothesizes and misconceptions regarding the virus. The scientific and medical arena has changed course a good number of times about the nature of Covid-19. But for the CDC to come out and say an individual who is around an asymptomatic person need not be tested was ludicrous.
The FDA likewise has proven itself as an agency willing to yield to political pressure. Dr. Stephen Hahn, US Food and Drug Commissioner refused to correct the lies Donald Trump told during a Fourth of July speech when questioned by CNN’s Dana Bash. For one thing, Trump declared that 99% or coronavirus cases were harmless. Trump downplayed the coronavirus as he always had, and encouraged Americans to go about their business. Hahn refused to counter any of the lies and dangerous assertions Trump made during that speech.
This vaccine has been a race to the table among major pharmaceutical companies. Not just because of the sense of urgency involved, but let’s face it – they all want to be first. Billions are to be made, and although Trump is the sorest loser on planet earth, he would love to leave the Oval Office asserting a vaccine came on his watch. He will take full credit for the vaccine. I would not be surprised if he claims he offered input to the pharmaceutical scientists.
Because of the expediency these vaccines have been created under the Trump administration, it should be expected state governments would desire an independent review by experts. Even as U.S. citizens, I cannot fault anyone wanting to examine the data put out by the pharmaceutical companies, and I certainly understand any state entity wanting to make sure it is safe and effective. After all, Donald Trump abandoned our governors right from the beginning, as his attention and efforts to the very end is to downplay the coronavirus.
