"Thanks to Trump, Vaccine Released" Self-Praise
"Hope It Comes Out As Soon As Possible" Urgent Approval Pressure
[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany has sparked controversy by naming the COVID-19 vaccine the 'Trump Vaccine,' crediting President Donald Trump during a press briefing. McEnany emphasized the need for the vaccine to be released as soon as possible, drawing criticism that she was pressuring U.S. health authorities to grant emergency approval.
According to foreign media including Bloomberg News on the 2nd (local time), McEnany stated at a White House press briefing, "By the end of this year, 40 million doses of the vaccine will be supplied, which is an incredible achievement," adding, "This is thanks to President Trump, a businessman-turned-president. So this is the 'Trump Vaccine.'" She further emphasized, "Vaccines typically take 4 to 25 years to develop, but we achieved this in just 10 months."
She highlighted President Trump's so-called 'Operation Warp Speed,' aiming for vaccine commercialization by the end of this year, which involved providing large financial support to pharmaceutical companies and easing regulations. Bloomberg News pointed out, "The White House press secretary tried to brand the soon-to-be-available vaccine as a 'Trump brand,'" noting that this reflected the White House's eagerness for vaccine approval amid over 270,000 COVID-19 deaths in the U.S.
On the same day, Dr. Moncef Slaoui, the chief of the White House's Operation Warp Speed team, said at a press conference, "Vaccinations will begin in mid-December, with the goal of vaccinating 100 million people by mid-February." Dr. Slaoui explained that healthcare workers and severely ill patients would be prioritized for vaccination, with the target group expanding over time.
CNN reported that the White House's emphasis on vaccine achievements came as officials in the Trump administration grew unsettled following the British government's approval of Pfizer's vaccine for emergency use?the first in the world. President Trump is reportedly dissatisfied with losing the vaccine development race to the UK and suspects that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is deliberately delaying vaccine approval.
In this context, White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows summoned FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn to the White House again on the same day after calling him the previous day, leading to speculation in U.S. political circles that Meadows was reprimanding Hahn over suspicions that the FDA was delaying vaccine approval. McEnany denied these allegations, stating, "It is natural for the two to meet because we are trying to save American lives with the vaccine in record time."
While the White House praised President Trump's vaccine achievements, Trump himself has remained silent without making any significant comments about the vaccine following the UK's approval. The FDA is scheduled to review Pfizer's vaccine approval on the 10th and Moderna's vaccine approval on the 17th.
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