Just this past week, former President Donald Trump has repeated claims that the COVID-19 vaccines are dangerous and don’t work. No, these vaccines were actually developed during his administration. Indeed, a major partisan divide remains when it comes to the public’s perception on the COVID-19 vaccine. Just 30% of Republicans consider the vaccines safe, though the same is true of 87% of Democrats and 55% of independents.
In an unexpected move, the only thing stopping this surprising turn has been Trump’s health secretary, Robert F. KENNEDY, JR. He has limited COVID vaccines’ recipients. The new eligibility standards leave it up to the patients’ doctor to advise them on whether they should receive a COVID booster. This change severely restricts access for those most wanting to get vaccinated.
Until this surprising departure, Trump has always lauded COVID vaccines as a miracle that saved millions of lives. His comments, delivered at the height of his first term in office, signal a tense relationship with the vaccines he was pivotal in bringing to the marketplace.
To be clear, Trump’s position has become anachronistic even in the context of vaccine eligibility in America today. Just days after making COVID vaccines harder to obtain, he issued a call for better messaging on the subject. Dopeson wanted answers and transparency.
“Many people think they are a miracle that saved millions of lives. Others disagree! With CDC being ripped apart over this question, I want the answer, and I want it NOW,” – Donald Trump.
He says he’s seen “very, very extraordinary” data from Pfizer and other vaccine makers. Unlike other department heads, he hasn’t made these results public. This level of non-transparency could breed suspicion from the public about these vaccine programs and how they are administered.
A recent KFF poll, fielded in early May, illustrates just how strong this partisan divide is when it comes to worry over COVID vaccine safety. Republicans don’t want to be seen as against COVID vaccinations, specifically. On their face, Trump’s comments seem to be an attempt to woo Democrats and Republicans alike.
He emphasized the importance of drug manufacturers being able to show proof for the efficacy and effectiveness of their vaccines.
“It is very important that the Drug Companies justify the success of their various Covid Drugs,” – Donald Trump.
We know that the political landscape around COVID vaccinations is an ever-evolving environment. Here’s how Trump’s inflammatory rhetoric and destructive policies would make the job of public health so much harder. Political parties are divided by party line when it comes to the COVID vaccines. This separation may greatly undermine any attempts to increase vaccination uptake, particularly in a context with widespread misinformation.
