Biden says he'll take a COVID-19 shot when Fauci says it's safe, as he warns Americans 'have lost faith in the ability of the vaccine to work'
- President-elect Joe Biden will take a COVID-19 vaccine once Dr. Anthony Fauci, who will be his chief chief medical advisor, says it's safe, he told CNN Thursday.
- He warned that "people have lost faith in the ability of the vaccine to work," and that the number of people supporting the shot was "staggeringly low."
- Former presidents Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, and George W. Bush set a "model" by saying they would take a coronavirus vaccine on camera, Biden said.
- It's essential the government assures them of the vaccine's safety, he said.
Biden will get a COVID-19 vaccine once Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, says it's safe, he told CNN Thursday.
But the government will have to work hard to assure people the vaccine works, he said, as he warned Americans had "lost faith" in a coronavirus shot.
"When Dr Fauci says 'we have a vaccine that is safe,' that's the moment at which I will stand before the public, and say [I'll take the vaccine]," he said. "It matters what a president and a vice-president do.
He warned that "people have lost faith in the ability of the vaccine to work."
"Already the numbers are really staggeringly low," he added. He did not clarify this statement, but appeared to be referencing polls about whether Americans thought the vaccine was safe.
Only 58% of Americans would take a coronavirus vaccine if it was available today at no cost to them, according to a November Gallup poll. This hesitation could derail nationwide progress in curtailing the spread of the virus, experts told Business Insider.
During the pandemic, some groups have protested a potential COVID-19 vaccine, attempted to discredit scientists, and vowed they would not be vaccinated against the novel coronavirus.
"It's important to communicate to the American people 'it's safe, it's safe to do this,'" Biden said. "We have to make it clear to the American people that the vaccine is safe when that is determined"
Former presidents Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, and George W. Bush set a "model" by announcing they would take the vaccine on camera to prove its safety, Biden added.
Biden also announced that he asked Fauci to be chief medical advisor when he comes to office in January.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will gather an independent panel of experts to assess Pfizer and BioNTech's vaccine candidate on December 10. If approved, it could be rolled out within 24 hours.
The UK health regulator approved the vaccine on Wednesday, making it the first Western nation to approve a COVID-19 vaccine.
Fauci on Thursday criticized the UK's "rushed" approval of the vaccine, before apologizing and saying he had "great faith" in UK scientists and regulators.
The US is dealing with the worst coronavirus outbreak of any country in the world. Almost 14 million Americans have tested positive for the virus, and more than 273,000 COVID-19 deaths have been reported.
Biden also said he plans to ask Americans to wear masks in public spaces for the first 100 days of his presidency.