President Trump Says NY Won’t Get Vaccine – Governor Cuomo Responds
NY Governor Andrew Cuomo had some words to share in response to the President’s Press Conference concerning ‘Operation Warp Speed’ – during which Trump stated that the COVID-19 Vaccine would not be available to New York States due to the Governor’s supposed reluctance to participate in the drug’s use.
The press briefing which lasted over half an hour had Mr. Trump, VP Mike Pence, Vaccine Czar Dr. Moncef Slaoui, Army General Gus Perna who is in charge of ‘Operation Warp Speed’, and HHS (Health and Human Services) Secretary Alex Azar.
The briefing follows up on Pfizer’s recent announcement, early in the week, that their vaccine has an efficiency rate of 90%.
New York State was singled out not only by Trump but as well by Secretary Azar.
“This process has been driven solely by science and data. So it’s a shame that some — one example being the Governor of New York — have actually injected politics into the process and suggested the possibility of intentionally delaying access to an FDA-authorized vaccine, which is simply unconscionable,” said Mr. Azar.
Talk of COVID-19 Vaccine was present at both Governor Cuomo and NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio’s press conferences in the past days.
Following the briefing, Governor Cuomo appeared on numerous New Outlets to counter the President’s claims (the text of which can be found near the bottom of this page).
Below the following links are some of the Governor’s on-air responses.
Related Reading which might help one understand the ongoing conflict between President Trump and Governor Cuomo:
- NY Governor Cuomo: White House Coronavirus TaskForce Vaccination Plans are Deeply Flawed
- NY Governor Cuomo Announces Updated COVID-19 Micro-Cluster Focus Zones
- COVID Vaccine Plan Fails Communities of Color says Gov Cuomo, AG Letitia James + Others
- Federal Govt Request for ID Numbers In Exchange for COVID Vaccine Questioned by Governor Cuomo
- NY Governor Cuomo: I Don’t Trust the President and I Don’t Trust the FDA
- Governor Cuomo Applauds SUNY’s Dr. Stephen Thomas, Appointed Lead Investigator for Pfizer Vaccine Trial
- AG Letitia James Ready to Sue Trump IF New York Doesn’t Get COVID-19 Vaccine
On CNN’s The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer
Governor Cuomo:
“What the president says is just untrue. At one time a statement like that would almost be incredible, but with this president it’s common. Here are the facts. We trust the drug companies. Pfizer is a great New York company, actually. Regeneron is a great New York company. What the American people don’t trust is President Trump, and every poll has shown, Wolf, yours included, that over half the American people are afraid that they politicized the approval process of the vaccine for political reasons during the campaign. So we’re in a situation now where half the people in the country are saying I don’t know if I should trust the vaccine. A number of states, New York included, but a number of states set up a separate scientific panel that will review the FDA’s approval to give people confidence in the approval process. Ours is headed by a Nobel Prize laureate, to establish the credibility that they don’t have in president trump because they believe he politicized the health process. That will actually help build confidence in the vaccine, and that’s what we’re going to do. It will run simultaneously with his process, so as soon as the FDA approve, it, we’ll have our panel approve it, seven other states will review it, and then I can say to the people of New York, I know you were dubious, but we had a seperate panel review it, it’s safe, take it. Because if we have a vaccine that people don’t trust, it doesn’t accomplish anything anyway, Wolf.”
On MSNBC with Katy Tur:
Governor Cuomo: “Katy, none of what he said is true. Surprise, surprise. We’re all excited about the possibilities about a vaccine. It’s not that people don’t trust the vaccine companies, the pharmaceutical companies. Pfizer is a great New York company, Regeneron is a great New York company, but an overwhelming percentage of Americans are worried about political interference in the vaccination process and the approval process by the President. The American people trust the drug company more than they trust the President. Kaiser poll said 60 percent of Americans are worried that the approval was political. Pew poll said about 50 percent of Americans are worried that the approval is political. So a number of states, New York included, to try to build credibility so the people will actually accept the vaccine, put together their own scientific review panels. Ours is headed by a Nobel Prize laureate who will review the FDA process so we can say to people, it is safe, you should take the vaccine.”
President’s Statement concerning New York State and the delivery of the COVID-19 Vaccine:
“Again, this process is starting right away. Millions of doses will soon be going out the door. They’re all ready, waiting for that final approval. As soon as April, the vaccine will be available to the entire general population, with the exception of places like New York state, where, for political reasons, the governor decided, they say — and, you know, I don’t think it’s good, politically; I think it’s very bad from a health standpoint — but he wants to take his time with the vaccine. He doesn’t trust where the vaccine is coming from.
These are coming from the greatest companies anywhere in the world, greatest labs in the world. But he doesn’t trust the fact that it’s this White House, this administration. So we won’t be delivering it to New York until we have authorization to do so, and that pains me to say that.
This is a very successful, amazing vaccine at 90 percent and more. But — so, the governor, Governor Cuomo, will have to let us know when he’s ready for it. Otherwise, we — we can’t — we can’t be delivering it to a state that won’t be giving it to its people immediately. And I know many — I know the people of New York very well. I know they want it.
So the governor will let us know when he’s ready. He’s had some very bad editorials recently about this — this statement and what’s happened with respect to nursing homes and his handling of nursing homes, and I hope he doesn’t handle this as badly as he’s handled the nursing homes.
But we’re ready to provide it as soon as they let us know that they’ll actually use it. And again, it’s a very safe and a great vaccine.”
Following is a youtube video, published by CNBC, of the President’s press conference: