Kamala Harris Says, 'Wouldn't Trust Trump On Safety Of Covid Vaccine Released Before US Elections'

Kamala Harris said that Trump's rush to release the vaccine ahead of US elections raises concerns and she would trust the vaccine's safety.

US Democratic vice presidential nominee and Senator from California, Kamala Harris. (Image: AFP)

Covid Vaccine: While every country is busy to top the race for the vaccine, all eyes are on US President Trump as he announced the country will get the Coronavirus vaccine by November 1, 2 days ahead of US elections. The office of President Donald Trump has asked the state administration to be ready for the distribution of the COVID vaccine by November 1. While experts have raised concerns on President Trump's claim, Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris is in support of the experts and said on Saturday that if a coronavirus vaccine is available before November's election, she would not take President Donald Trump's word on its safety and efficacy. Also Read|US To Get Covid-19 Vaccine By November 1? Trump Govt Directs States To Be Ready For Vaccine Distribution Trump's rush to the Coronavirus vaccine before the US presidential elections has raised a political debate in the country and the WHO has also issued concerns regarding the release of the vaccine at such an early stage. "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 (a vaccine)," Harris told CNN. "I will not take his word for it." A shot against the virus that has killed over 188,000 in the US and hobbled the world's largest economy has become another flashpoint ahead of the November 3 vote. This week news broke that the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention asked states to sweep away red tape that could prevent a network of vaccine distribution centers being "fully operational by Nov 1, 2020." The US Food and Drug Administration has also raised the possibility that a vaccine might be given emergency authorization before the end of trials. Trump Administration not concerned about the warning by WHO The White House pushed back on concerns expressed by the World Health Organization (WHO) after a U.S. health official said a coronavirus vaccine might be authorized for use without completing full trials. The White House also said that the United States would not join a global effort to develop, manufacture, and distribute a coronavirus vaccine because of the WHO involvement. About 172 countries are engaging with the WHO's COVID-19 vaccine plan to ensure equitable access to vaccines, known as COVAX. "The United States will continue to engage our international partners to ensure we defeat this virus, but we will not be constrained by multilateral organizations influenced by the corrupt World Health Organization and China," White House spokesman Judd Deere said in a statement on Tuesday.