Biden’s team outlines pandemic strategies as Trump hints at major changes ahead
The report, which is 16 pages long, highlights what’s been done over the last four years against COVID-19 and other diseases. It includes vaccination efforts and ways to track outbreaks through wastewater testing. Biden’s team says this is just a sneak peek of a more detailed 300-page playbook they’re handing over to the next administration.
While Biden’s folks are proud of their work, some health experts aren’t so sure. They think more should have been done, especially with the bird flu spreading among animals. Jennifer Nuzzo from Brown University pointed out that many experts feel the response has been lacking.
Trump’s team is looking to cut government spending and has shown support for vaccine skeptics. He even suggested getting rid of the White House office that focuses on pandemic preparedness, calling it a waste of money.
Looking back, during Trump’s first term, they dismantled a key pandemic unit in 2018. When COVID-19 hit, many experts felt that unit could have helped the response be quicker and more organized.
In 2020, Trump’s administration also tried to pull the U.S. out of the World Health Organization, a move Biden reversed. Experts warn that if Trump does it again, it could hurt the U.S.’s ability to get early warnings about new outbreaks.
While some experts commend Trump for “Operation Warp Speed,” which sped up vaccine development, they also note that years of planning from previous administrations set the stage for that success.
Biden’s team argues that the COVID-19 vaccines only started rolling out after he took office, and they launched what they call the largest free vaccination program in U.S. history. Dr. Paul Friedrichs from the White House said Biden faced a huge public health crisis and worked hard to turn things around.
The pandemic office is also taking steps to tackle bird flu, which has been spreading among animals. They’ve detected the virus in U.S. dairy herds and have stockpiled vaccines to combat it.
Experts stress the importance of being ready to quickly develop new vaccines. Michael Osterholm from the University of Minnesota said we can’t predict which flu virus might cause the next pandemic, so being prepared is key.
Public health experts also emphasize the need for ongoing training and surveillance in other countries to catch new infections early. Ian Lipkin from Columbia University hopes the Trump administration will see the value in investing in these efforts, especially with concerns about infections crossing borders.
