Harris on getting any COVID-19 vaccine before election: ‘I would not trust Donald Trump’ | TheHill – The Hill

Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala HarrisKamala HarrisThe Hill's Campaign Report: 19 years since 9/11 | Dem rival to Marjorie Taylor Greene drops out | Collin Peterson faces fight of his career | Court delivers blow to ex-felon voting rights in Florida Kasich to Meghan McCain: Concern over abortion 'dwarfed' by need to beat Trump Harris pays tribute to 9/11 victims, first responders in Virginia MORE said she would not take President TrumpDonald John TrumpSenate panel seeks documents in probe of DHS whistleblower complaint Susan Collins: Trump 'should have been straightforward' on COVID-19 Longtime House parliamentarian to step down MOREs word about the efficacy of a potential coronavirus vaccine released before the November election.

In an interview with CNN set to air in full on Sunday,the California senatorsaid she was not confident that health officials would get the last word on the effectiveness of a vaccine.

If past is prologue that they will not. Theyll be muzzled, theyll be suppressed, they will be sidelined because hes looking at an election coming up in less than 60 days, and hes grasping for whatever he can get to pretend that hes been a leader on this issue when hes not,she said.

I will say that I would not trust Donald Trump, and it would have to be a credible source of information that talks about the efficacy and the reliability of whatever he's talking about, she added.

BASH: "Lets just say theres a vaccine that is approved and even distributed before the election. Would you get it?"

HARRIS: "Well, I think thats going to be an issue for all of us. I will say that I would not trust Donald Trump... I will not take his word for it." #CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/jhxtdvaMF1

The remarks come amid concerns that the administration is pushing for a vaccine to be produced prior to Election Day to boost the presidents reelection bid. CNN reported Thursday that Trump has pressured officials to accelerate the development of a vaccine to portray the sense that the end of the COVID-19 pandemic is near.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also asked state governors last week to fast-track applications for building permits for vaccine distribution sites that would be up and running in early November before Election Day.

Polling has shown voters remain skeptical of Trumps word on a coronavirus vaccine, with only 14 percent in a Politico-Morning Consult surveylast month saying that thatd be more likely toreceivea COVID-19 vaccination if the president recommended it.

By comparison, 46 percent said theyd take one on the advice of their family,while 43 percent said they would on the advice of the CDC or Anthony FauciAnthony FauciOvernight Health Care: McConnell: Chance for coronavirus deal 'doesn't look that good right now' | Fauci disagrees with Trump that US rounding 'final turn' on pandemic | NIH director 'disheartened' by lack of masks at Trump rally Fauci: Return to pre-coronavirus normality will be 'well into 2021' Fauci disagrees with Trump that US rounding 'final turn' on pandemic MORE, the nations leading infectious disease expert.

Too much of the evidence points to the Trump administration pressuring the [Food and Drug Administration] to approve a vaccine by Election Day to boost the Presidents re-election campaign, Senate Minority LeaderCharles SchumerChuck SchumerMcConnell: Chance for coronavirus deal 'doesn't look that good right now' The Hill's 12:30 Report - Presented by Facebook - Biden, Pence elbow bump at NYC Sept. 11 ceremony FDNY says Treasury withheld .7M from 9/11 first responder fund MORE(D-N.Y.) said in a statement this week, referencing a report fromThe Washington Postaddressing the concerns.

All Americans want a safe and effective vaccine as soon as possible, but if these important life and death decisions appear political, it will only undermine Americans confidence in a vaccine and prolong the pandemic, he added.

Officials have worked to downplay worries, with Fauci this week suggesting hed trust health officials if theysaid a vaccine is safe.

I mean, I will look at the data, and I would assume, and Im pretty sure its going to be the case, that a vaccine would not be approved for the American public unless it was indeed both safe and effective. And I keep emphasizing both safe and effective. If thats the case ... I would not hesitate for a moment to take the vaccine myself and recommend it for my family, he said.

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Harris on getting any COVID-19 vaccine before election: 'I would not trust Donald Trump' | TheHill - The Hill