Coronavirus vaccine politics are developing in a big way. Anthony Fauci expressed in June his fear that people will not take a coronavirus vaccine because of anti-science bias — because they are “anti-vaccination.” Some recent developments suggest that Fauci is going to have to start worrying more about people objecting because of President Trump and for other political reasons.
Trump has repeatedly touted his administration’s vaccine development efforts, making the push again in his acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention. “We are delivering life-saving therapies and will produce a vaccine before the end of the year or maybe even sooner,” Trump said.
Since then, a poll conducted by STAT and the Harris Poll found that 82% of Democrats believe that coronavirus vaccine efforts are being driven by politics more than by science, and some 72% of Republicans believe the same.
To be clear, whether vaccine development is being driven by politics is a broad question, and an affirmative answer might be given for a number of reasons. For example, the Democrats who responded to the survey probably believe Trump is pressuring public health officials for his own benefit.
Take the New York Times’s letters to the editor for what they’re worth, but they may at least reflect the sentiment of some of those polled by STAT. “But although I am over 70 and therefore especially vulnerable to infection and death from Covid-19, I absolutely will not receive any vaccine pushed by Donald Trump or an F.D.A. or C.D.C. bent to aid his re-election,” one person said.
Republicans, who have tended to be more skeptical of public health officials, might agree that Trump is the politicizing factor, but there is probably a share who think broadly that public health and science are politicized, even anti-Trump in disposition. Trump obviously thinks this.
“The deep state, or whoever, over at the FDA is making it very difficult for drug companies to get people in order to test the vaccines and therapeutics,” he tweeted on Aug. 22. “Obviously, they are hoping to delay the answer until after November 3rd. Must focus on speed, and saving lives!”
The deep state, or whoever, over at the FDA is making it very difficult for drug companies to get people in order to test the vaccines and therapeutics. Obviously, they are hoping to delay the answer until after November 3rd. Must focus on speed, and saving lives! @SteveFDA
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 22, 2020
Still, a prevailing calculation among Democrats seems to be that the president is pressuring on speed and compromising efficacy. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Stephen Hahn’s announcement and partial walk-back on convalescent plasma as a coronavirus treatment has added fuel to accusations of political pressure.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a Thursday statement, “Too much of the evidence points to the Trump administration pressuring the FDA to approve a vaccine by Election Day to boost the president’s reelection campaign. This raises serious safety concerns about politics, not science and public health, driving the decision making process.”
Former Democratic Rep. Katie Hill tweeted on Wednesday, “I’m a big fan of vaccines but DAMN I’m skeptical of one that‘s supposed to have been developed, tested, produced, and distributed in 6 months — right in time for the re-election of our very own dictator.”
I’m a big fan of vaccines but DAMN I’m skeptical of one that‘s supposed to have been developed, tested, produced, and distributed in 6 months — right in time for the re-election of our very own dictator.
— Katie Hill (@KatieHill4CA) September 2, 2020
The thing to recognize is that liberals are moving beyond mistrust of the president into mistrust-the-science territory — or at least a mistrust of public health agencies. Remember that for liberals, during the pandemic, challenging these agencies and officials has amounted to trampling on science.
Though the FDA is led by a political appointee, it is an institution with many career professionals and significant review structures. As Fauci has noted, the trials are subject to review by the Data and Safety Monitoring Board. There’s almost no way the FDA approves an ineffective or dangerous vaccine without a major uproar from within.
Something else that might reassure skeptical liberals is the FDA’s revocation of its own emergency use authorization for hydroxychloroquine. The move was a clear demonstration of the agency’s independence from the president who, with help from surrogates, continued to promote the drug even after the EUA was revoked.
The task of inspiring confidence will largely be left to the prominent health officials who pre-date Trump, chief among whom is the trusted Fauci. Before Trump started shooting for October, Fauci was saying that he is “cautiously optimistic” that a vaccine will be ready early next year. On Thursday, he said on CNN that a vaccine in October is “unlikely, not impossible.” He also said, “The FDA has been very explicit that they are going to make a decision based on the data as it comes in,” continuing, “I think that we can have some confidence and have faith in what the FDA is saying.”
Trump will keep campaigning on a quick vaccine. At a Thursday 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.” It is sure to sow more skepticism.
Vaccines have generally been considered our most promising path out of this hellish pandemic. As more doubt a vaccine’s viability, and the agencies tasked with ensuring it, that looks less like a guarantee.
