Biden downplays Trump’s reluctance to promote vaccines

Washington – President Joe Biden Monday downplayed the fact that his predecessor, Donald Trump, has not promoted the efficacy and safety of vaccines against Covid-19, despite the skepticism shared by many of the former president’s voters.

“My team says there is something that has more impact on MAGA people than anything Trump can say, and it’s about what his local doctor, his local pastor, the people of his community are saying.”Biden said in a statement to White House reporters.

Using the phrase “MAGA people,” the president referred to Trump’s voters, which he described with the initials of his rival’s campaign slogan in the November election: “Let’s Make America Great Again”. ).

30% of Americans do not intend to get vaccinated, a group comprising 47% of those who voted for Trump in the November election, according to a poll last Thursday by PBS and broadcaster NPR.

Every living former president in the country, with the exception of Trump, has documented the timing of the vaccine and participated in a campaign to promote its efficacy and safety, as has Biden.

Instead, Trump and his wife, Melania, were quietly vaccinated against COVID-19 in January before leaving the White House, but they didn’t report it until March, and they haven’t campaigned about the importance of being vaccinated against the virus.

White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said on Monday that the Biden administration would “ support ” greater involvement of Trump in the effort to convince Americans to get vaccinated, in case “ the former president got up tomorrow and wanted more. talk about the safety and efficacy of the vaccine ”.

“But I think it’s important to note that 81% of Republicans (Trump’s party) have said they trust (the advice of) their own doctor or healthcare provider, and that’s an important area we need to invest in . ”Psaki said in his daily press conference.

“All the other living former presidents have taken part in public campaigns and they didn’t need us to send them a special invitation to do so,” the spokeswoman added.

Both Psaki and Biden stressed that there are other ways to convince Trump supporters who are hesitant or unwilling to get the vaccine, and that they are being taken through local action.

“I urge all local doctors, religious pastors and preachers to speak up about why it is important for people to get vaccinated,” Biden emphasized.