Trump stays on sidelines as vaccine injections begin

President Donald Trump's ministration helped deliver vaccinations against coronavirus earlier than even some in his ministration thought possible, but president has been largely absent from effort to sell American public on what aides hope will be a key part of his legacy.

Trump launched “Operation Warp Speed” — government campaign to help swiftly develop and distribute vaccines — this spring with great fanfare in White House Rose Garden.

But w, five days into largest vaccination campaign in nation's history, Trump has held public events to trumpet rollout. He hasn't been iculated himself. He has tweeted only twice about shot.

Vice President Mike Pence, meanwhile, has taken centre st — touring a vaccine production facility this week and preparing to receive a dose himself on live television on Friday morning. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leer Mitch McConnell both said Thursday that y will get vaccinated in next few days.

Trump's relative silence comes as he continues to stew about his defeat in vember 3 election and embraces increasingly extreme efforts to overturn people's will. He's pushed aside plans of aides who wanted him to be public face of vaccination campaign, eschewing visits to labs and production facilities to thank workers, or hosting efforts to build public confidence in shot, according to people familiar with conversations.

sheepish approach has been surprising, especially for a president rarely shy to take credit, said Lawrence Gostin, a professor at Georgetown Law who focuses on public health.

“ President's relatively low profile on COVID response since election is curious and counter to Mr Trump's own interests,” he said. Gostin, who has criticised Trump's handling of pandemic in past, said that he “deserves a great deal of credit" for Operation Warp Speed and placing a bet on two vaccines that use groundbreaking mRNA techlogy.

“Having exhibited leership in vaccines' development, he should take great pride in publicly demonstrating his trust in COVID vaccines," he said.

Trump did appear at a White House “summit” ahe of Food and Drug ministration's approval of Pfizer vaccine last week. That event included an introductory video highlighting past comments of those — including top government infectious-disease expert Dr Anthony Fauci — who doubted a shot would be rey this year.

But many Trump aides are puzzled by his low profile w that vaccine is actually being injected. y see it as a missed opportunity for president, who leaves office at on on January 20, to claim credit for helping oversee speedy development and deployment of vaccine that is expected to finally contain virus that has killed more than 310,000 Americans.

Trump himself has tried to minimise any credit that might go to his successor, President-elect Joe Biden, who will preside over bulk of nationwide injection campaign next year.

“Don't let Joe Biden take credit for vaccines,” Trump has told reporters. “Don't let him take credit for vaccines because vaccines were me, and I pushed people harder than y've ever been pushed before.” Despite Trump's claims, FDA scientists were ones who came up with idea for Operation Warp Speed, White House-backed effort through which millions of doses of coronavirus vaccines and treatments are being manufactured even as y are still being evaluated.

And much of groundwork for shots was laid over past dece, including through research on messenger RNA, or mRNA, used in vaccines developed by both Pfizer and Moderna. Pfizer developed its vaccine outside Operation Warp Speed but is partnering with federal government on manufacturing and distribution.

Trump's low-key approach could have an impact on public health. Fauci told NBC News this week that 75% to 85% of nation needs to be vaccinated to achieve “herd immunity,” making public education campaign about vaccine's safety all more pressing.

A survey from Associated Press-RC Center for Public Affairs Research found that only about half of Americans want to get vaccine as soon as possible. Ar quarter of public isn't sure, while remaining quarter say y aren't interested. Some simply oppose vaccines in general. Ors are concerned that injections have been rushed and want to see how rollout goes.

As Trump sat on sidelines, some of his favoured commentators, including Fox News' Tucker Carlson, were questioning safety of vaccine.

While senior officials are beginning to make plans to receive vaccine in public to help build public confidence, Trump, who was hospitalized with COVID-19 in October, is taking his time.

According to guidance from Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, re is t yet eugh information to determine wher those who have h COVID-19, like Trump, should get vaccine. Still, Fauci recommended that Trump take it publicly without delay.

“Even though president himself was infected, and he has, likely, antibodies that likely would be protective, we're t sure how long that protection lasts. So, to be doubly sure, I would recommend that he get vaccinated as well as vice president,” Fauci told ABC News.

It was t clear wher first ly Melania Trump, who came down with COVID-19 at same time as her husband, would be vaccinated.