A defining revelation of this pandemic is just how much it has exposed the depth of partisanship in politics. Everything from masks, social distancing, quarantining, schooling, eating out, and general socializing has become a talking point, with one party fiercely taking the opposing position of the other.
This behavior hinders the goal: beating the virus and getting our health and economy back on track.
Though infection and death rates are generally improving, there won’t be a lasting sigh of relief until a safe and effective vaccine is ready for use. Unfortunately, the subject of a vaccine is yet another chance for partisans to dig in their heels.
Foremost in the minds of too many is how a vaccine will help or hurt either Republicans or Democrats in a divisive election year. Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention directed states to make potential vaccine distribution sites ready by Nov. 1, just two days before the presidential election. This was interpreted by some as a premature move that was more about making the Trump administration look good than it was about keeping up with the pace of vaccine trials and production.
But the CDC’s request to prepare for future vaccine distribution is not the same as promising that a vaccine will be ready before the expected time frame. Still, President Trump stated early in August that a vaccine would be ready “sooner than the end of the year.” At a recent rally in Pennsylvania, Trump said, “[The vaccine] will be delivered before the end of the year, in my opinion, before the end of the year, but it really might even be delivered before the end of October.”
Public health officials have been slow to show as much optimism, with Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, telling CNN that a vaccine by Election Day is “unlikely, not impossible.”
The eagerness with which Trump discusses a vaccine has turned off those who have made the very subject of the coronavirus their main weapon against him in this election. Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris is a notable example. During an interview on CNN over the weekend, Harris expressed her distrust of the president regarding his talk of a vaccine and when it might be available, stating, “I will not take his word for it.”
In response, Trump said, “They’re going to make the vaccine into a negative.” He also said, “Now they’re saying, ‘Wow, Trump’s pulled this off. OK, let’s disparage the vaccine.'” This back-and-forth is exhausting.
People should trust the medical experts, not the president, his opponents, or either political party when it comes to vaccine preparedness. A safe, effective vaccine should be celebrated no matter when it appears. As the government encourages preparation for the vaccine, state and local authorities could help by cutting through some of the partisan nonsense. Focusing solely on the science behind a vaccine and its efficacy, apart from politicians’ claims, could help to convince those on both the Left and the Right that the vaccine should be taken when it is ready.
Despite appearances, the introduction of a coronavirus vaccine earlier than expected would be to the country’s benefit, not to a particular politician’s alone. Trump may be the leader of our nation, but his influence on the vaccine is minuscule. The scientific community is motivated by the needs of the public, not any pressures placed on them by a president. He does not spur a vaccine’s advancement.
Voters are not more likely to select Trump or Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden on Election Day based on whether a vaccine is right around the corner. Additionally, refusing to consider a vaccine simply because the president is pushing for delivery before previous estimates is also unwise. Any reaction that considers the political implications before all others is pure tribalism and has no place in discussions about a global health crisis that has infected millions, killed hundreds of thousands, stalled lives, and damaged economies.
Kimberly Ross (@SouthernKeeks) is a contributor to the Washington Examiner’s Beltway Confidential blog and a columnist at Arc Digital.
