President Donald Trump has once again found himself at odds with experts in his own administration as to how to curb the virus that's already killed nearly 200 thousand Americans.
While officials at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) continue to emphasize the importance of wearing a mask in public to avoid asymptomatic transmission of the virus, the President insists that a vaccine will soon be on the way—potentially as soon as November, around the time of the presidential election.
But in sworn testimony before a Senate committee on Tuesday, CDC director Dr. Robert Redfield contradicted Trump's claim that a vaccine would be ready by early 2021. Redfield then urged the public to prioritize mask wearing over waiting for a vaccine.
Watch below.
“Face masks are the most important powerful public health tool we have," Dr. Robert Redfield testified to Congress on Wednesday. “We have clear scientific evidence they work, and they are our best defense."
The latest: https://t.co/XcGJYlkTBu pic.twitter.com/o3iXhQ6nKa
— The New York Times (@nytimes) September 16, 2020
While Redfield said that a small supply of an initial vaccine could be created by December, it would be months longer before it's readily available:
"If you're asking me, when is it going to be generally available to the American public, so we can begin to take advantage of vaccine to get back to our regular life? I think we're probably looking at late second quarter, third quarter 2021."
He went on to stress that, at this stage, mask-wearing is more effective than reliance on a vaccine.
"I will continue to appeal for all Americans, all individuals in our country, to embrace these face coverings. I've said it, if we did it for six, eight, 10, 12 weeks, we'd bring this pandemic under control. These actually, we have clear, scientific evidence they work, and they are our best defense."
This once again contradicted the President, who's repeatedly expressed or encouraged skepticism of masks.
In a Wednesday press briefing, Trump was asked about the dissonance between his assurances of a vaccine and Redfield's claim that the soonest publicly available vaccine wouldn't come until mid-2021.
Watch below.
“I think he made a mistake when he said that."
Trump says CDC Director Robert Redfield was “confused" when he said November/December would be when a vaccine could be available and that general public won't get it til next year. pic.twitter.com/jvt6Y98wEV
— Bloomberg QuickTake (@QuickTake) September 16, 2020
Trump said of Redfield:
"I think he made a mistake when he said that. It's just incorrect information and I called him and he didn't tell me that and I think he got the message, maybe, confused. Maybe it was stated incorrectly...We're ready to go as soon as the vaccine is announced."
Trump's insistence that he has the deadly virus under control is once again taking priority over the advice of health experts within his own administration.
As a response, CNN created a graphic showing Redfield's medical qualifications next to Trump's, and it makes it pretty clear who is to be trusted on these issues.
09 17 2020 07 00 47youtu.be
The graphic shows Redfield's credentials:
"• Medical degree from Georgetown
• Professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine
• Served on advisory council on HIV/AIDS under George W. Bush
• Served in the Army Medical Corps for 20 years
• Has been CDC director since 2018"
Next to Redfield, Trump's credentials seemed even more sparse:
"• Uncle taught at MIT"
People couldn't help but cackle at the tongue in cheek graphic.
Daaaamn!! @CNN coming in hot!! 😂 https://t.co/O7VFJojBpR
— Robert Breese (@TheRobertBreese) September 17, 2020
This is how news organizations should start fact checking this mad man. https://t.co/t3ESGWoOK6
— SJ (@SJlatin) September 17, 2020
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 https://t.co/qMzCKQXkxk
— Shadow Person Dave Bautista (@DaveBautista) September 17, 2020
Not sure of who you would ride with yet? Trump is headed off a cliff and his base will follow https://t.co/1pNb7AO94d
— Bdabiz : #Trump will not be #truthful . scum bag (@bdabiz) September 17, 2020
And they were pretty certain as to whom they would trust when it came to a vaccine.
I believe Redfield. Not the moron in charge https://t.co/XQH9Oby0So
— Steve Brewster (@stevembrew) September 17, 2020
Got news for you Mr. Acosta, ain't NO ONE getting vaccinated on the word of president who told the nation to ingest disinfectant ... https://t.co/MgDG39MH7O
— Michael G. Mooney (@mmooneytake5) September 16, 2020
Trump is lying. https://t.co/tBcRKmCq4V
— Regina Marston for Congress - CA 42 in 2022 (@Marston4ca42) September 16, 2020
@WhiteHouse and @realdonaldtrump are lying to the American public when they know the truth.
Dr. Redfield @CDCDirector is trying to get us the correct information and @POTUS is blocking him and undermining him. https://t.co/u7tqw7TYOh
— Ⓥ The Daily Tomato (@daily_tomato) September 16, 2020
45 does not know the facts, the science. Nor is he interested in either. This is just part of his #lies and #incompetence. @realDonaldTrump @POTUS https://t.co/cz6nq8nuHb
— Gina M Etherton (@Gina1973E) September 16, 2020