Joe Biden Willing To Be Vaccinated For COVID-19 In Public

US President-elect, Joe Biden (Instagram / @ joebiden)

JAKARTA - President-elect of the United States (US), Joe Biden, will promote the use of masks for all citizens. The campaign will last one hundred days since he was officially inaugurated as president. Biden also stated that he was ready to be vaccinated in public as a form of his participation in efforts to tackle COVID-19.

In the US, the COVID-19 crisis continues to rage out of control. Quoting The Guardian, Friday, December 4, Biden and his deputy, Kamala Harris, also committed to being vaccinated as soon as possible after the vaccine was approved by US regulators. Biden is also willing to join forces with three former US presidents who have pledged to be vaccinated in public to boost US public confidence in vaccines.

Earlier, on Thursday, December 3, Bill Clinton, George W Bush and Barack Obama said they were willing to do the vaccination broadcast on television. Of course, after the vaccine is approved. "I would love to do that," said Biden when asked if he would be ready to get a vaccine for COVID-19 before being sworn in as the 46th president in January 2021.

He added, "I think three of my predecessors have decided what to do." Biden said he would follow Obama's words, that he would be vaccinated if Anthony Fauci - a public health officer in the White House COVID-19 task force - declared the vaccine safe. The vaccine is currently awaiting approval by US regulators for emergency use.

“When Dr Fauci said we had the vaccine and it was safe, that's when I would stand in front of the public. What's happening is that people have lost faith in the ability of vaccines. What the president and vice president do is important, "said Biden.

Biden said he had spoken to Fauci. Her health advisory team has also spoken with Fauci. Biden explained he had also asked Fauci to be his chief medical advisor and be part of the COVID-19 team advising him about the pandemic.

Former president Jimmy Carter, who is 96 years old, issued a statement via his charity foundation's social media account, the Carter Center, saying that he and his wife Rosalynn fully support the COVID-19 vaccine effort. It also encourages all eligible people to get the vaccine as soon as it becomes available in their community.

Donald Trump hasn't spoken publicly about whether he will get a vaccine or not. On Thursday, December 3, Trump remained silent about the record death toll and hospitalizations recorded in the US in the preceding 24 hours, as the death toll in the US exceeded 275,000 and recorded cases crossed the threshold, according to Johns Hopkins University data.

Trump has in recent months tried to sideline Fauci while taking advice from less qualified figures such as Scott Atlas, who stepped down from his position as White House adviser earlier this week. Scot Alas increased the president's public ambivalence on protections such as wearing masks and maintaining social distancing.