Topics in the News: Vaccinations
Joe Biden on Vaccinations:
(Health Care Mar 1, 2022)
I've ordered more anti-virus pills than anyone in history
Here are four common sense steps as we move forward safely [to move past the coronavirus pandemic]:- First, stay protected with vaccines and treatments. We're also ready with anti-viral treatments. If you get COVID-19, the Pfizer pill reduces your
chances of ending up in the hospital by 90%. We've ordered more of these pills than anyone in the world. And Pfizer is working overtime to get us 1 million pills this month and more than double that next month. And we're launching the "Test to Treat"
initiative so people can get tested at a pharmacy, and if they're positive, receive antiviral pills on the spot at no cost.
- Second--we must prepare for new variants.
- Third--we can end the shutdown of schools and businesses. We have the tools we
need.
- Fourth, we will continue vaccinating the world. We've sent 475 Million vaccine doses to 112 countries, more than any other nation. And we won't stop.
Click for Joe Biden on other issues.
Source: 2022 State of the Union address
Donald Trump on Vaccinations:
(Health Care Dec 24, 2021)
Coronavirus vaccine works but some people aren't taking it
During an event in Dallas, Trump confirmed that he had been vaccinated and had gotten a booster shot, attracting boos from some audience members. Trump stated his opposition to vaccine mandates but again touted the shot's efficacy. "The vaccine worked.
But some people aren't taking it. The ones that get very sick and go to the hospital are the ones that don't take the vaccine." While Trump didn't acknowledge it, most unvaccinated Americans now belong to or lean toward the GOP.
In the most recent CNN poll, Republicans and Republican-leaning independents make up a solid majority of the relatively small bloc of US adults still entirely unvaccinated against Covid.[Comments and poll in response to H.R.6304, the "Stop Federal
Vaccine Mandates for Employees Act," which says "No emergency standard may require any drug or vaccine or other biological product to be administered to any employee." See H.R. 6304 for Congressional response]
Click for Donald Trump on other issues.
Source: WFMZ-TV 69-News: Trump COVID promises vs. actions
Joe Biden on Vaccinations:
(Health Care Nov 4, 2021)
Get more people vaccinated, or prolong coronavirus pandemic
For our country, the choice is simple: get more people vaccinated, or prolong this pandemic and its impact on our country. The virus will not go away by itself: we have to act. Vaccination is the single best pathway out of this pandemic. And while
I would have much preferred that requirements not become necessary, too many people remain unvaccinated for us to get out of this pandemic for good. So I instituted requirements--and they are working. They protect our workers and have helped us reduce
the number of unvaccinated Americans over the age of 12 from approximately 100 million in late July when I began requirements to just about 60 million today.Vaccination requirements are good for the economy. They not only increase vaccination
rates but they help send people back to work--as many as 5 million American workers. They make our economy more resilient and keep our businesses open. [See H.R. 6304 for Congressional response]
Click for Joe Biden on other issues.
Source: White House press release by 2021 Biden Administration
Pete Buttigieg on Vaccinations:
(Budget & Economy Oct 31, 2021)
Invest in infrastructure, get pandemic behind us
For the long term, the best thing we can do is invest in our infrastructure. For the very short time, there are steps we can take in and around the ports that we think are helping. And in the medium-term, again, at risk of repeating myself,
if we really want to see all of these disruptions end, we've got to end the pandemic. That's what getting everybody vaccinated is all about.
Click for Pete Buttigieg on other issues.
Source: Fox News Sunday 2021 interview: Secretary of Transportation
Vladimir Putin on Vaccinations:
(Health Care Oct 22, 2021)
Shouldn't mandate; convince people vaccination is better
[On Vaccine tourism]: "I've repeatedly heard the following: European citizens come here to get vaccinated with Sputnik V and buy a certificate [in Europe] saying they're vaccinated by Pfizer. They believe that Sputnik is more reliable and safer.
I'm not saying this to propagandize Sputnik. I'm talking about the ease with which you can evade [vaccine mandates]. So it seems to me we should not mandate, but instead convince and prove that vaccination is better than the disease."
Click for Vladimir Putin on other issues.
Source: The Moscow Times on Foreign Influencers
Gavin Newsom on Vaccinations:
(Health Care Aug 5, 2021)
State employees to get vaccinated or regular testing
Newsom announced that state employees and health care workers would be required to get vaccinated or be subject to regular COVID testing. Few issues united the four Republicans on stage like their disdain for public health mandates. "I happen to have
great faith in the ability of people to make decisions of their own," said Doug Ose, who spoke with the technical knowledge of a longtime lawmaker and a table-pounding indignation. "Instead of giving people mandates, we need to give them options."
Click for Gavin Newsom on other issues.
Source: Cal Matters on 2021 CA recall race
Ron DeSantis on Vaccinations:
(Abortion Jul 1, 2021)
Anti-choice on abortion; pro-choice on vaccinations
Asked to compare and contrast "The Florida Heartbeat Act" (HB 167), a House bill banning abortions after the fetus develops a heartbeat, with what a reporter called "freedom of choice during the pandemic," DeSantis fumbled and
offered an inconclusive answer. "Well, I think the difference is between the right to life is that another life is at stake. Whereas whether you've put something in your body or not, it doesn't affect other people," the Governor asserted.
Click for Ron DeSantis on other issues.
Source: Florida Politics on 2022 Florida Gubernatorial race
Ron DeSantis on Vaccinations:
(Health Care Jul 1, 2021)
Supports $5000 fines for businesses demanding vaccine proof
DeSantis defended his decision to start issuing $5,000 fines to businesses, schools and government agencies that require people to show proof of a COVID-19 vaccination, saying he doesn't want to create two classes of citizens. DeSantis signed a bill
earlier this year that banned vaccine passports. "One, I'm vaccinated, I am offended that someone would make me show something just to go to a restaurant or just to live life," DeSantis said. "I don't want a biomedical security state."
Click for Ron DeSantis on other issues.
Source: News4Jax on 2022 Florida Gubernatorial race
Antony Blinken on Vaccinations:
(Health Care Apr 1, 2021)
Don't tie access to COVID vaccines to geopolitics
Various countries, including China, have been engaged in so-called vaccine diplomacy. Of course, sometimes this diplomacy comes with strings attached, and certain requests are made. I think that's deeply unfortunate because
we shouldn't tie the distribution or access to vaccines to politics or to geopolitics. This needs to be done by everyone who's able to do it, because it's in the overall interest of humanity.
Click for Antony Blinken on other issues.
Source: Japan Forward interview: on 2021 Biden Administration
Joe Biden on Vaccinations:
(Health Care Mar 18, 2021)
Made 100M vaccination goal, but not 70% goal
PROMISE MADE: (Newsweek, Jan. 15, 2021): Biden formally rolled out his aggressive, federally backed delivery plan to meet his goal of getting 100 million shots administered in his first 100 days in office. "Some wonder if we're reaching
too far with that goal--is it achievable?" Biden said. "Let me be clear: I'm convinced we can get it done.PROMISE KEPT: (NBC News, March 18, 2021): Biden said he was poised to meet his goal of administering 100 million
Covid-19 vaccination shots in his first 100 days more than 40 days ahead of schedule. "I am proud to announce that tomorrow, 58 days into my administration, we will have met our goal," Biden said in a speech at the White House.
ANALYSIS:
Biden subsequently made and then walked back a goal of 150 million shots, a goal that is expected to be met as well. Biden then proposed 70% vaccination rate by July 4th; the US reached 67% on July 4 and reached 70% several weeks later.
Click for Joe Biden on other issues.
Source: Newsweek & NBC analysis of Biden Promises
Joe Biden on Vaccinations:
(Health Care Mar 6, 2021)
$119 billion to build public confidence in vaccines
PROMISE MADE: (2020 campaign website JoeBiden.com): Plan for the effective, equitable distribution of treatments and vaccines because discovering isn't enough if they get distributed like Trump's testing and PPE fiascos. Invest $25 billion
in a vaccine manufacturing and distribution plan that will guarantee it gets to every American, cost-free.PROMISE KEPT: (CNN 3/6/21): The [stimulus bills] provide $14 billion to research, develop, distribute, administer and strengthen
confidence in vaccines. They would also put $47.8 billion toward testing, contact tracing and mitigation, including investing in laboratory capacity, community-based testing sites and mobile testing units. Both chambers would also allocate
$7.7 billion to hire 100,000 public health workers to support coronavirus response. The legislation also provide $50 billion to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, with some of the funds going toward expanding vaccination efforts.
Click for Joe Biden on other issues.
Source: CNN "Senate stimulus" analysis of 2021 Biden Promises
Lloyd Austin on Vaccinations:
(Health Care Mar 4, 2021)
COVID: greatest proximate challenge to national security
The greatest proximate challenge to our Nation's security is the threat of COVID-19. The Department will continue to act boldly and quickly to support Federal Government efforts to defeat the disease, defend the force against it, and work with our
domestic and international partners to protect our Nation from potential novel and deadly viruses of the future. We will continue to provide direct support to the Federal Government's vaccination efforts.
Click for Lloyd Austin on other issues.
Source: USNI News on 2021 Biden Administration
Ron DeSantis on Vaccinations:
(Health Care Mar 2, 2021)
COVID: We will not close schools, jobs, businesses
Friends, legislators, Floridians, lend me your ears: We will not let anybody close your schools, we will not let anybody take your jobs and we will not let anybody close your businesses!Our efforts saved lives. In fact, 40 states have suffered higher
COVID mortality for seniors aged 65+ on a per capita basis than Florida. The cases and hospitalizations for seniors in Florida have plummeted as vaccinations have increased. Florida was right to prioritize the elderly. Seniors First works.
Click for Ron DeSantis on other issues.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Florida legislature
Joe Biden on Vaccinations:
(Budget & Economy Mar 1, 2021)
ARPA tackles urgent public health and economic crises
ARPA provides the tools and support critical to tackle the urgent public health and economic crises the Nation faces as a result of COVID-19. This includes funding to set up community vaccination sites nationwide, scale up testing and tracing, eliminate
supply shortage problems, invest in high quality treatments, address health disparities, and ensure workplace health and safety protections.The bill also delivers immediate relief to workers and families bearing the brunt of the public health and
economic crises, by providing eligible Americans with a $1,400 payment in addition to the $600 payment provided in December of 2020.
The bill also expands the Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit on an emergency basis, extends key emergency
unemployment benefits, raises the minimum wage to $15 per hour, and stabilizes pensions for Americans who participate in multi-employer pension plans. [See details of ARPA]
Click for Joe Biden on other issues.
Source: Statement of 2021 Biden Administration Policy on H.R. 1280
Antony Blinken on Vaccinations:
(Foreign Policy Jan 29, 2021)
Reaffirmed US/India ties; important to work together
Blinken spoke with Indian Minister of External Affairs Dr. S. Jaishankar to reaffirm the growing U.S.-India partnership and discuss issues of mutual concern, including COVID-19 vaccination efforts, regional developments, and next steps in
expanding bilateral ties. The Secretary underscored India's role as a preeminent U.S. partner in the Indo-Pacific and the importance of working together to expand regional cooperation.
Click for Antony Blinken on other issues.
Source: Biden Administration Press Release from state.gov
Pope Francis on Vaccinations:
(Health Care Dec 25, 2020)
Coronavirus vaccine morally ok even if from fetal research
Italy is set to deliver the first doses of a COVID-19 vaccine [this week. As in other countries, health care workers and nursing home residents will be first to receive it. Seniors and others at high risk of exposure would be next.
The Vatican earlier this month said the use of coronavirus vaccines is "morally acceptable," even if some vaccines are manufactured using "cell lines from aborted fetuses in their research and production process."
Francis, who turned 84 earlier this
month, urged that everyone who needs a vaccine have access to it. "I cannot place myself ahead of others, letting the law of the marketplace and patents take precedence over the law of love and the health of humanity," Francis said. "I ask everyone--
government leaders, businesses, international organizations--to foster cooperation and not competition, and to seek a solution for everyone: vaccines for all, especially for the most vulnerable and needy of all regions of the planet."
Click for Pope Francis on other issues.
Source: National Public Radio on "Urbi et Orbi"
Pope Francis on Vaccinations:
(Health Care Dec 25, 2020)
No vaccine nationalism: coronavirus vaccines for all
Francis delivered his traditional "Urbi et Orbi" (to the city and the world) message virtually from a lectern inside the Vatican. The pandemic and its social and economic effects dominated the message. Stressing that health is an international issue, he
appeared to criticise so-called 'vaccine nationalism', which U.N. officials fear will worsen the pandemic if poor nations receive the vaccine last."I beg everyone, heads of state, companies and international organisations to promote cooperation and
not competition, to find a solution for everyone--vaccines for all--especially for the most vulnerable and needy in all areas of the planet," he said.
Francis also appeared to criticise people who have refused to wear
masks because it violates their freedom: "And neither can we allow the virus of radical individualism to triumph over us and make us indifferent to the suffering of other brothers and sisters," he said.
Click for Pope Francis on other issues.
Source: Reuters on yahoo.com, "Urbi et Orbi"
Cedric Richmond on Vaccinations:
(Education Dec 13, 2020)
COVID: Reopening schools is one of our top priorities
One of the priorities for President-elect Biden is to get schools back open and get kids into schools, and that means we're going to have to put resources in it, which is why a deal from
Congress to help education facilities and schools open up is important. Making sure the vaccine gets to those teachers and students is important. And so it's one of our top priorities.
Click for Cedric Richmond on other issues.
Source: Face the Nation on 2021 O.P.E. Confirmation Hearings
Donald Trump on Vaccinations:
(Health Care Oct 22, 2020)
Use military to distribute 100 million vials of vaccine
Q [to BIDEN]: How would you lead the country out of the coronavirus crisis?BIDEN: If we just wore these masks, we can save a 100,000 lives. The president has no comprehensive plan. I will make sure we have a plan.
Q: [to TRUMP]: You said a vaccine
will be coming within weeks. Is that a guarantee?
TRUMP: No, it's not a guarantee, but it will be by the end of the year.
Q: Your own officials say, "It could take well into 2021 at the earliest for enough Americans to get vaccinated."
Is your timeline realistic?
TRUMP: No, I think my timeline is going to be more accurate. I don't know that they're counting on the military the way I do, but we have our generals lined up [for distribution] logistics. As soon as we have the
vaccine and we expect to have a 100 million vials.
BIDEN: This is the same fellow who told you, "Don't worry, we're going to end this by the summer." We're about to go into a dark winter, and he has no clear plan.
Click for Donald Trump on other issues.
Source: Third 2020 Presidential Debate, moderated by Kristen Welker
Donald Trump on Vaccinations:
(Health Care Oct 22, 2020)
We reduced coronavirus from an expected 2.2 million deaths
Q: What about people who say you could have done more on coronavirus?TRUMP: 2.2 million people were expected to die. We closed up the greatest economy in the world in order to fight this horrible disease that came from China. The mortality rate is
down 85%. There was a spike in Florida and it's now gone. There was a very big spike in Arizona. It's now gone. We have a vaccine that's coming. We have Operation Warp Speed, which is the military is going to distribute the vaccine. I had it and I got
better.
BIDEN: He did virtually nothing. And then he gets out of the hospital and he talks about, "Oh, don't worry. It's all going to be over soon." Come on. There's not another serious scientist in the world who thinks it's going to be over soon.
TRUMP: I didn't say "over soon." I say we're learning to live with it. We have no choice. We can't lock ourselves up in a basement like Joe does. As the president couldn't do that and go away for a year and a half until it disappears. I can't do that.
Click for Donald Trump on other issues.
Source: Third 2020 Presidential Debate, moderated by Kristen Welker
Joe Biden on Vaccinations:
(Health Care Oct 15, 2020)
Depending on vaccine, think about making it mandatory
Q: Will you mandate the coronavirus vaccine?BIDEN: It depends on the state of the nature of the vaccine when it comes out, and how it's being distributed. But I would think that we should be talking about, depending on the continuation of the spread
of the virus, we should be thinking about making it mandatory.
Q [to TRUMP]: You have been having rallies despite being exposed?
TRUMP: As President, I have to be out there. I can't be in a basement. I want to see everybody. And I also say to people
all the time, it's risky doing it. [But the White House tests everyone regularly].
BIDEN: Before I came up here, I took another test. I've been taking them every day. If I had not passed that test, I didn't want to come here and expose anybody.
And I just think it's just decency, to be able to determine whether or not you're clear. I'm less concerned about me, than the people working in the Secret Service and the camera staff.
Click for Joe Biden on other issues.
Source: Second 2020 Presidential Debate/ABC Town Hall Philadelphia
Donald Trump on Vaccinations:
(Principles & Values Oct 15, 2020)
I've done a great job; next year is going to be better
I've done a great job. We have the strongest economy in the world. The vaccines are coming out soon, and our economy is strong. We are at a level with jobs like we've never been before. We've rebuilt our military. We've rebuilt our borders.
We've given you the greatest tax cut in the history of our country. Greatest regulation cut, equally as important. We created new levels of jobs that nobody thought was possible. Next year is going to be better than ever before.
Click for Donald Trump on other issues.
Source: Second 2020 Presidential Debate/NBC Town Hall Miami
John Hickenlooper on Vaccinations:
(Health Care Oct 10, 2020)
COVID: Need capacity test or vaccinate every American
Q: COVID-19: Support administration's response to coronavirus pandemic?John Hickenlooper: No. "Only way to regain our confidence and restart our economy is having the capacity to either test or vaccinate every American."
Corey Gardner: Yes. "HHS, through a number of its agencies, is actively leading critical prevention, containment, and supply-chain stability."
Click for John Hickenlooper on other issues.
Source: CampusElect on 2020 Colorado Senate race
Mike Pence on Vaccinations:
(Health Care Oct 7, 2020)
We're producing millions of vaccines; ready by end of year
HARRIS: On January 28th, the vice president and the president were informed about the nature of this pandemic. They were informed that it's lethal in consequence, that it is airborne, that it will affect young people, and that it would be contracted
because it is airborne. Can you imagine if you knew on January 28th, as opposed to March 13th, what they knew, what you might've done to prepare? They knew, and they covered it up. The president said it was a hoax. PENCE:
Under President Trump's leadership, Operation Warp Speed, we believe we'll have literally tens of millions of doses of a vaccine before the end of this year. The reality is, when you look at the Biden plan,
it reads an awful lot like what our task force has been doing every step of the way. I think the American people know that this is a president who has put the health of America first.
Click for Mike Pence on other issues.
Source: 2020 Vice-Presidential Debate in Utah
Donald Trump on Vaccinations:
(Health Care Sep 15, 2020)
COVID: We're very close to having vaccine
Frankly, we're very close to having the vaccine. If you want to know the truth, the previous administration would have taken perhaps years to have a vaccine because of the FDA and all the approvals, and we're within weeks of getting it. You know,
could be three weeks, four weeks, but we think we have it. Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, we have great companies and they're very, very close. So I feel that we've done a tremendous job actually, and I don't think it's been recognized like it should.
Click for Donald Trump on other issues.
Source: ABC This Week: special edition 2020 Town Hall interview
Donald Trump on Vaccinations:
(Health Care Sep 15, 2020)
COVID: If we wouldn't do testing you wouldn't have cases
Q: What about a coronavirus vaccine?TRUMP: Frankly, we're very close to having the vaccine. If you want to know the truth, the previous administration would have taken perhaps years to have a vaccine because of the FDA and all the approvals, and
we're within weeks of getting it. You know, could be three weeks, four weeks, but we think we have it. Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, we have great companies and they're very, very close. So I feel that we've done a tremendous job actually, and
I don't think it's been recognized like it should.
Q: What the next step in fighting the virus?
TRUMP: We're very proud of the job we've done, and we've saved a lot of lives, a tremendous number of lives.
Q: We have 4% of the world's population,
more than 20% of the cases, more than 20% of the deaths.
TRUMP: We have 20% of the cases because of the fact that we do much more testing. If we wouldn't do testing you wouldn't have cases. You would have very few cases.
Click for Donald Trump on other issues.
Source: ABC This Week: special edition 2020 Town Hall interview
Donald Trump on Vaccinations:
(Health Care Aug 28, 2020)
We'll have a safe & effective coronavirus vaccine this year
We are marshalling America's scientific genius to produce a vaccine in RECORD TIME. Under Operation Warp Speed, we have three different vaccines in the final stage of trials right now, years ahead of what has been achieved before.
We are producing them in advance, so that hundreds of millions of doses will be quickly available. We will have a safe and effective vaccine this year, and together we will crush the virus.
Click for Donald Trump on other issues.
Source: Speech at 2020 Republican National Convention
Mike Pence on Vaccinations:
(Health Care Aug 26, 2020)
A nation of miracles: coronavirus vaccine by end of year
As we speak we're developing a growing number of treatments, including convalescent plasma that are saving lives all across the country. Last week, Joe Biden said "no miracle is coming." What Joe doesn't seem to understand is that America is a nation
of miracles and we're on track to have the world's first safe, effective coronavirus vaccine by the end of this year. After all the sacrifice in this year like no other -- all the hardship-- we are finding our way forward again.
Click for Mike Pence on other issues.
Source: Speech at 2020 Republican National Convention
Kamala Harris on Vaccinations:
(Health Care Aug 23, 2020)
COVID: track racial disparities; get vaccines to neediest
Q: Would you be prepared to shut this country down again [for the coronavirus pandemic]?BIDEN: I will be prepared to do whatever it takes to save lives because we cannot get the country moving until we control the virus. That is the fundamental flaw
of this administration's thinking to begin with. In order to keep the country running and moving and the economy growing, and people employed, you have to fix the virus, you have to deal with the virus. I would shut it down, I would listen to the
scientists.
HARRIS: There are different needs based on different communities and that's why we talk about the need to track actually racial disparities -- disparities based on region, geographic region and do that now. So that when we have a vaccine,
those communities that are most in need, will get them. That policy and that approach will be guided by the public health experts, unlike what we have seen now which are the politics guiding a public health crisis.
Click for Kamala Harris on other issues.
Source: ABC This Week 2020 National Convention David Muir Q&A
Kamala Harris on Vaccinations:
(Civil Rights Aug 19, 2020)
There is no vaccine for racism--we've got to do the work
As Kamala Harris accepted the Democratic Party's vice presidential nomination she argued that "structural racism" had compounded the coronavirus's consequences for communities of color across America. "This virus has no eyes,
and yet it knows exactly how we see each other--and how we treat each other," the California senator said. "And let's be clear--there is no vaccine for racism. We've gotta do the work."
Click for Kamala Harris on other issues.
Source: Politico.com on 2020 Democratic National Convention
Donald Trump on Vaccinations:
(Health Care May 5, 2020)
Administration didn't participate in global vaccine summit
World leaders held an online summit aimed at galvanizing global efforts to develop a coronavirus vaccine. At the end of the three-hour meeting, billions of dollars had been pledged to fund the efforts. Notably absent
from the meeting were any officials from the Trump administration in the U.S., the country with the highest confirmed death toll from the new disease by far. Russia also declined to join the meeting.
Click for Donald Trump on other issues.
Source: CBS News on Trump Administration
Tom Steyer on Vaccinations:
(Health Care Feb 26, 2020)
Mandatory Coronavirus vaccines; and other immediate actions
Q: Coronavirus is spreading now quickly outside of China. If and when they were to develop a vaccine, if you were president, would you mandate that Americans take the vaccine?STEYER: If it were necessary to take the vaccine to prevent the spread of
the Coronavirus through the United States, yes, I would. But let me talk for a second about Coronavirus. Because what we're seeing is that this is a pandemic that hasn't been handled well. Back in 2014, there was an Ebola outbreak in Africa; President
Obama did a fantastic job of controlling it. We're seeing the exact opposite from this president. We're seeing a president who just asked Congress for money to deal with it today. The World Health Organization declared an emergency in January.
So what we're seeing here, the Coronavirus may or may not turn into a worldwide epidemic. But what we know for sure is that it's going to have a huge impact on the world economy as we try to deal with it.
Click for Tom Steyer on other issues.
Source: CNN S. C. Town Hall for 2020 Presidential primary
Donald Trump on Vaccinations:
(Health Care Feb 26, 2020)
Screen people coming from coronavirus-infected areas
[Debate moderator]: We heard from President Trump tonight, detailing the administration's response to the spread of the Coronavirus. And I want to tell you what it includes.
It includes stopping non- U.S. citizens from coming to the U.S. from China; screening people coming into the country from infected areas; quarantining those infected; and developing a vaccine.
Click for Donald Trump on other issues.
Source: CNN S. C. Town Hall for 2020 Presidential primary
Marianne Williamson on Vaccinations:
(Health Care Jun 19, 2019)
Vaccination should be a choice, like abortion choice
Marianne Williamson leans in to vaccine skepticism in NH: "To me, it's no different than the abortion debate. The US government doesn't tell any citizen, in my book, what they have to do with their body or their child."
[She added an additional tweet that] vaccine mandates are too "draconian" & "Orwellian" [but later rescinded those terms].
Click for Marianne Williamson on other issues.
Source: Twitter posting in 2020 Democratic primary
Marianne Williamson on Vaccinations:
(Health Care Jun 19, 2019)
I support vaccines, but I understand the skepticism
After a request for comment [about her Tweet that vaccine mandates were "draconian" & "Orwellian"], Williamson acknowledged making the remarks and said she misspoke."I understand that many vaccines are important and save lives,"
Williamson said. "I also understand some of the skepticism that abounds today about drugs which are rushed to market by Big Pharma. I am sorry that I made comments which sounded as though I question the validity of life-saving vaccines.
That is not my feeling and I realize that I misspoke."
When asked about her stance on religious and personal belief exemptions for vaccinations, Williamson replied through a spokeswoman: "I support vaccines. Public safety must be carefully balanced
with the right of individuals to make their own decisions."
Williamson has a history of skeptical comments about vaccinations. President Trump has previously proudly embraced the disproved theory that vaccines cause autism.
Click for Marianne Williamson on other issues.
Source: Los Angeles Times on 2020 Democratic primary
Donald Trump on Vaccinations:
(Health Care Apr 26, 2019)
Trump reverses course on vaccinations; now in favor
President Donald Trump weighed in on the recent measles outbreak in the United States, appearing to do an about-face on his previous claims linking child vaccinations to autism."They have to get the shots. The vaccinations are so important.
This is really going around now. They have to get their shots," Trump told CNN's Joe Johns when asked what his message is for parents.
Trump first weighed in on the issue on Twitter in 2012."Massive combined inoculations to small children is the cause for big increase in autism," he claimed.
He made a similar argument in 2014, tweeting, "Healthy young child goes to doctor, gets pumped with massive shot of many vaccines, doesn't feel good and changes--AUTISM. Many such cases!"
Click for Donald Trump on other issues.
Source: CNN on 2020 Trump Administration: "Parents must vaccinate"
Bill de Blasio on Vaccinations:
(Health Care Apr 22, 2019)
Require measles vaccinations, even for religious schools
Q: In 2019, we had a measles outbreak in New York City, in Brooklyn. Can you give us an update on the efforts to mandate vaccinations?Q: It was time to be very aggressive. We tried hard to use the normal public health outreach efforts and education
efforts but there is a strong anti-vaxxer movement that really was affecting particularly one of our neighborhoods in Brooklyn, Williamsburg. And we couldn't let that go unanswered. So I ordered that we would mandate vaccinations.
Now since that order almost 1,000 kids have gotten vaccinated. And we believe over the next few weeks we will see this crisis end. But we have had to close a few schools, in fact the religious schools that had too many kids coming to school
unvaccinated. We had to give out violations to individuals with real fines attached. This is not something you ever want to do, but measles can be fatal. So it was time to be tough and time to show there would be consequences.
Click for Bill de Blasio on other issues.
Source: Transcript of "Morning Joe," NBC News morning news
Jay Inslee on Vaccinations:
(Health Care Apr 22, 2019)
Declared emergency over measles anti-vaccination wave
Vaccinations: Inslee declared a state of emergency in
January after the anti-vaccination wave contributed to cases of measles, causing what he called a "public disaster."
Click for Jay Inslee on other issues.
Source: Axios.com on 2020 Democratic primary
Kirsten Gillibrand on Vaccinations:
(Families & Children Apr 9, 2019)
Pro-vaccines, not sure if they should be Federally mandated
I haven't thought about whether I would make [vaccination] mandatory. I do believe that parents need more information about why vaccines are so essential. Parents need to know that their child could die of preventable diseases, that they could spread a
preventable disease and other children could die. It does save lives, and I will work as hard as I can to make sure that every parent knows that vaccines are absolutely necessary. It is a state-by-state issue, but I will think about federally mandating.
Click for Kirsten Gillibrand on other issues.
Source: CNN Town Hall: 2020 presidential hopefuls
Gavin Newsom on Vaccinations:
(Immigration Jul 26, 2017)
Sanctuary cities build trust
Newsom supports San Francisco's status as a "sanctuary city" for undocumented immigrants, as long as they do not commit crimes.
This has built trust that leads to more schooling, vaccinations and other services that these residents might have hesitated to seek, he said.
Click for Gavin Newsom on other issues.
Source: Modesto Bee on 2018 California gubernatorial race
Donald Trump on Vaccinations:
(Health Care Oct 9, 2016)
Educate public on value of comprehensive vaccinations
Q: Public health officials warn that we need to take more steps to prevent international epidemics from viruses such as Zika. Meanwhile, measles is resurgent due to decreasing vaccination rates. How will your administration support vaccine science?
DONALD TRUMP: We should educate the public on the values of a comprehensive vaccination program. We have been successful with other public service programs and this seems to be of enough importance that we should put resources against this task.
JILL STEIN: Vaccines are a critical part of our public health system. We need universal health care as a right to ensure that everyone has access to critical vaccines. The best way to overcome resistance to vaccination is to
acknowledge and address concerns and build trust with hesitant parents. We can do that by removing corporate influence from our regulatory agencies to eliminate apparent conflicts of interest.
Click for Donald Trump on other issues.
Source: ScienceDebate.org: 20 questions for 2016 presidential race
Donald Trump on Vaccinations:
(Health Care Oct 9, 2016)
Focus on greatest bang for the buck, not public health
Q: Public health efforts like smoking cessation, drunk driving laws, vaccination, and water fluoridation have improved health and productivity and save millions of lives. How would you improve federal research and our public health system?
TRUMP: The implication of the question is that one must provide more resources to research and public health enterprises. In a time of limited resources, one must ensure that the nation is getting the greatest bang for the buck.
We cannot simply throw money at these institutions and assume that the nation will be well served. What we ought to focus on applying resources to those areas where we need the most work. Our efforts to support research and public health
initiatives will have to be balanced with other demands for scarce resources. My administration will work to establish national priorities and then we will work to make sure that adequate resources are assigned to achieve our goals.
Click for Donald Trump on other issues.
Source: ScienceDebate.org: 20 questions for 2016 presidential race
Donald Trump on Vaccinations:
(Health Care Sep 16, 2015)
I'm for vaccines, but in smaller quantities to avoid autism
Q [to Carson]: Donald Trump has publicly and repeatedly linked autism to childhood vaccines. Your opinion?CARSON: There have been numerous studies, and they have not demonstrated that there is any correlation between vaccinations and autism.
Q [to Trump]: As president, you would be in charge of the Centers for Disease Control and the National Institutes of Health, both of which say you are wrong.
TRUMP: Autism has become an epidemic. It has gotten totally out of control.
I am totally in favor of vaccines. But I want smaller doses over a longer period of time. You take this little baby, and you pump--I mean, it looks like it's meant for a horse, not for a child. Just the other day, a 2-year-old child went to have the
vaccine, and got a fever; now is autistic. I'm in favor of vaccines, do them over a longer period of time, same amount. And I think you're going to see a big impact on autism.
CARSON: We are probably giving way too many in too short a period of time.
Click for Donald Trump on other issues.
Source: 2015 Republican two-tiered primary debate on CNN
Rand Paul on Vaccinations:
(Health Care Sep 16, 2015)
I'm for vaccines, but don't require bunching them altogether
One of the greatest medical discoveries were vaccines, particularly for smallpox. I'm all for vaccines. But I'm also for freedom. I'm also concerned about how they're bunched up.
My kids had all of their vaccines, and even if the science doesn't say bunching them up is a problem, I ought to have the right to spread out my vaccines out a little bit at the very least.
Click for Rand Paul on other issues.
Source: 2015 Republican two-tiered primary debate on CNN
Bernie Sanders on Vaccinations:
(Health Care Sep 5, 2015)
Vaccinations work; electing not to vaccinate is dangerous
Q: What does Bernie have to say about vaccines?A: Bernie believes that vaccinations are safe and effective, and that electing not to vaccinate is dangerous and wrong: "I think obviously vaccinations work. Vaccination has worked for many, many years.
I am sensitive to the fact that there are some families who disagree but the difficulty is if I have a kid who is suffering from an illness who is subjected to a kid who walks into a room without vaccines that could kill that child and that's wrong."
Click for Bernie Sanders on other issues.
Source: 2016 grassroots campaign website FeelTheBern.org, "Issues"
Mike Pence on Vaccinations:
(Families & Children Feb 26, 2015)
Let parents and doctors decide on HPV vaccinations
Gov. Mike Pence says he lobbied against legislation encouraging more young people to get vaccinated against HPV because of concerns about government mandates. The proposed House bill set a goal for the state to have 80 percent of 13 -15
year olds vaccinated against HPV by 2020.HPV is a virus linked to several forms of cancer, including cervical cancer, and only around 20 percent of Hoosiers are currently vaccinated against it.
The bill was defeated after several lawmakers voiced concerns about the state requiring parents to vaccinate.
Pence says setting a goal could lead to a vaccination requirement. "I just think this is a matter better left to
parents in consultation with their doctors," Pence says. He says the state already does enough by providing information to parents about the vaccine.
Click for Mike Pence on other issues.
Source: Indiana Public Media on Legislative Voting Records HEA 1359
Rand Paul on Vaccinations:
(Health Care Feb 4, 2015)
Encourage vaccines, with religious exceptions
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) continued to walk back his comments that parents should be allowed to choose whether to vaccinate their children, saying he holds the same position as President Barack Obama on the matter. "I got annoyed that people were trying to
depict me as someone who doesn't think vaccines were a good idea," Paul said, noting that he had been vaccinated before a recent trip to Guatemala and had vaccinated his children."I'm not sure I'm different from the president or anyone else on the
position," Paul said. "We have rules to encourage people to have vaccines in the country, but I don't think anybody's recommending that we hold them down."
Pressed on whether vaccinations should be required when an illness could spread to other
children, Paul said certain school vaccine requirements were already "somewhat of a mandate," but really more of an encouragement. "Interestingly, 48 out of 50 states do have a religious as well as philosophic exemption if you have a problem," Paul said.
Click for Rand Paul on other issues.
Source: Huffington Post 2015 coverage of 2016 presidential hopefuls
Barack Obama on Vaccinations:
(Health Care Feb 4, 2015)
All kids should get vaccinated, but not by law
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) continued to walk back his comments that parents should be allowed to choose whether to vaccinate their children, saying he holds the same position as President Barack Obama on the matter.President Barack Obama said parents
should get their kids vaccinated. "The science is pretty indisputable," Obama said. "We've looked at this again and again. There is every reason to get vaccinated, but there aren't reasons to not."
The White House has stopped short of saying that there should be a law requiring parents to get their children vaccinated. "The president believes it shouldn't require a law for people to exercise common sense and do the right thing," a
White House press secretary said. "And again, this is the right thing for them to do both by their own children, but by also other children in the community. They have a responsibility to do this. "
Click for Barack Obama on other issues.
Source: Huffington Post 2015 coverage of 2016 presidential hopefuls
Hillary Clinton on Vaccinations:
(Health Care Feb 3, 2015)
The science is clear: vaccines work
As the latest measles outbreak raises alarm, the vaccination controversy is a twist on an old problem for the Republican Party: how to approach matters that have largely been settled among scientists but are not widely accepted by conservatives.
Hillary Clinton weighed in with a jab at vaccine naysayers: "The science is clear: The earth is round, the sky is blue, and vaccines work."
Howard Dean, a presidential candidate in 2004 and a former DNC chairman, said there are three groups of people
who object to required vaccines: "One is people who are very much scared about their kids getting autism, which is an idea that has been completely discredited. Two, is entitled people who don't want to put any poison in their kids and view this as
poison, which is ignorance more than anything else. And three, people who are antigovernment in any way."
"But the truth," added Dean, a physician, "is you can be conservative without putting kids in harm's way."
Click for Hillary Clinton on other issues.
Source: N.Y. Times 2015 coverage of 2016 presidential hopefuls
Rand Paul on Vaccinations:
(Health Care Feb 2, 2015)
Parents own their children, and can choose to not vaccinate
Amid an outbreak of measles, Gov. Chris Christie & Sen. Rand Paul both came under fire for saying it should be up to parents whether to vaccinate their children. Christie said "parents need to have some measure of choice" in deciding whether to vaccinate
but later clarified his position: "There is no question kids should be vaccinated."Paul, however, doubled down on his view that the decision whether to vaccinate one's child is a matter of personal liberty: "The state doesn't own your children," Paul
said. "Parents own the children, and it is an issue of freedom and public health."
Paul also said he's heard of cases where children were left with "profound mental disorders" after being vaccinated. Some opponents have drawn links between vaccines and
autism, although this has been discredited in the medical community. [Paul recalled his irritation at doctors who tried to press him to vaccinate his own children. He eventually did, he said, but spaced out the vaccinations over a period of time.]
Click for Rand Paul on other issues.
Source: The Hill 2015 weblog on 2016 presidential hopefuls
Barack Obama on Vaccinations:
(Health Care Sep 4, 2012)
Too many Americans skip preventive care due to cost
Q: What actions would you support to enforce vaccinations?A: Today, there are too many Americans who do not get the preventive health care services they need to stay healthy. Many people put off preventive care because the deductibles and copays
are too expensive. That's why I fought for the Affordable Care Act, which will make sure all Americans have access to quality preventive health care services. Under the Affordable Care Act, Americans can now get vital preventive services--including the
full suite of routine vaccines recommend by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices--with no co-pay or deductible. The health care law also created the Prevention and Public Health Fund, an investment in promoting wellness, preventing disease,
and investing in public health infrastructure across the country. Ultimately, I believe the health care law is a significant step forward in ensuring that every American has access to the preventive care and immunizations that they need to stay healthy.
Click for Barack Obama on other issues.
Source: The Top American Science Questions, by sciencedebate.org
Mike Bloomberg on Vaccinations:
(Technology Aug 27, 2001)
Political will has not kept pace with scientific advances
From the time civil engineers separated the sewage system from the water supply (causing the single biggest jump in life expectancy ever), technology has been a boon to humankind. Smallpox has been eradicated worldwide at a cost
less than what we used to spend vaccinating kids in the United States alone. Now we cure childhood leukemia routinely where before there was no hope.
Click for Mike Bloomberg on other issues.
Source: Bloomberg by Bloomberg, by Mike Bloomberg, p.188
Page last updated: Mar 02, 2022
Error processing SSI file