Biden, Obama And Trump Vaccine Race In Public

Obama, Trump, and Biden in Presidential Inauguration (Source: Commons Wikimedia)

JAKARTA - President-elect of the United States (US), Joe Biden, is expected to receive his first COVID-19 vaccine early next week. The Biden vaccination process will later be shown to the general public.

"I don't want to be in the forefront. But I want to make sure we show the American people that it's safe to do so," said Biden while in Wilmington, Delaware.

"When I do, I'll do it in public, so you can all watch me do it," added Biden.

Quoting CNN, Thursday, December 17, people with knowledge of the plan said the delay was not due to Biden's doubts, but because the logistics of taking photos in public places could only be fulfilled.

Biden said in early December that he would be "happy to" receive a vaccine for COVID-19 after leading US expert on infectious diseases, Dr. Anthony Fauci, said that the vaccine is safe. Biden's intention to be vaccinated in public places to show his confidence in the vaccine.

US Vice President-elect Kamala Harris also said he would get the vaccine. Fauci said he firmly believed Biden and Harris should be vaccinated "as soon as possible."

Three former presidents from Democrats and Trump

Three former US Presidents, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama also said they would publicly get a vaccine for COVID-19. Like Biden, the three former number one people in the US want to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of vaccines.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump's administration officials have discussed how and when Trump will receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Even so, they have not made the final decision about scheduling the shoot.

The first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer / BioNTech has been injected into healthcare workers and those on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. The vaccine was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for emergency use last week.

The first dose has been shipped to all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Vaccine advisors to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have recommended that health care workers and residents of long-term care facilities be the first in line for the vaccine.

It may take months before a vaccine is widely available to the entire population. The FDA is also considering an Emergency Use Authorization for the Moderna vaccine this week.

Biden said his administration would distribute one hundred million shots of the vaccine, enough to cover 50 million people in the first hundred days of his term. The Pfizer vaccine requires two doses given at intervals of several weeks to achieve an efficacy of 95 percent.

In addition, Biden also promised to sign a mask mandate on his first day in office. He will ask Americans to wear masks during his first hundred days in office and say he also prioritizes getting children back to school safely.