U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), during Tuesday’s Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing, pressed Biden administration officials to publicly acknowledge the Trump administration’s contributions relating to the development of multiple COVID-19 vaccines.
During the hearing, Tuberville urged public officials to remove partisan politics from the conversation surrounding the COVID-19 debate, and offer a positive message to Americans encouraging the public to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Tuberville’s line of questioning led to Dr. Anthony Fauci, chief medical advisor to President Biden, to admit that the Trump administration deserves a “considerable amount of credit” for vaccine development and distribution.
In questioning Dr. Fauci, Tuberville expressed his desire for unity in promoting the vaccine.
“This has been tough on the American people. We all know that, everybody’s worked hard to try to get through this,” declared Tuberville. “Politics has played a huge role in this. We have all watched it from close and afar. But I think people need a unifying message from all of us, because in my state of Alabama, we don’t have everyone taking a vaccine, and we’re having outbreaks as we speak.”
Tuberville continued, “You know, a lot of people voted for Donald Trump — a lot of people in the South, a lot of people in my state voted for [him] and we have to have a unified message. We can’t be blaming this or that. So, Dr. Fauci, can you understand that unless this administration acknowledges the efforts of the last one, a large part of Americans, they’re going to continue to feel like nothing’s positive. They’re not going to take the vaccine. You understand what I’m saying?”
Dr. Fauci responded to Tuberville by crediting the Trump administration for its efficiency in overseeing the vaccine rollout.
“[T]hank you. That’s a very appropriate question that I would be pleased to answer,” Fauci acknowledged. “Having been present through the last year … I can tell you that no doubt the former administration deserves a considerable amount of credit for the effort that was put into Operation Warp Speed, that was able to allow not only the rapid development and testing, but also the implementation of the vaccine. So, there’s no doubt in my mind, as someone who has been on both sides of the fence to say that’s the case.”
In closing, Tuberville conveyed his support for bipartisan cooperation in vaccine efforts.
“Positive attitude plus effort equals performance,” he advised. “And if we keep that positive attitude, we can get through this thing. We just need to quit fighting in the media and get everybody believing in the same thing. We’re all on the same team.”
Dylan Smith is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News
