President-elect Joe Biden is not in favor of mandating the COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes available, but he will be encouraging Americans to follow the science.
“I don’t think it should be mandatory. I wouldn’t demand it to be mandatory…Just like I don’t think masks have to be made mandatory nationwide,” Biden told reporters in Wilmington, Delaware Friday.
He added, “I’ll do everything in my power as president of the United States to encourage people to do the right thing — and when they do it, demonstrate that it matters.”
Check out his comments below:
Biden says he doesn't think COVID vaccine should be mandatory and he won't demand it, but he will "do everything in my power as president of the United States to encourage people to do the right thing — and when they do it, demonstrate that it matters" https://t.co/NLaHXW4Sd8 pic.twitter.com/vM6fP4UYME
— CBS News (@CBSNews) December 4, 2020
During an interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper Thursday, Biden said he would take the vaccine once Dr. Anthony Fauci says it is safe and effective, as IJR previously reported.
“Saying, once it’s declared to be safe…I think what [former President Barack Obama] said, once Fauci says it’s clear — that’s my measure — then obviously we take it,” he said.
Biden added, “It’s important to communicate to the American people it’s safe. It’s safe to do this.”
He told CNN he would also encourage Americans to wear masks for his first 100 days in office, as IJR previously reported.
“My inclination is on the first day I’m inaugurated, I’m going to ask the public for 100 days to mask — just 100 days to mask, not forever. One hundred days,” Biden said.
He continued, “And I think we’ll see a significant reduction that occurs with vaccinations and masking to drive down the numbers considerably.”
Fauci voiced his support for Biden’s efforts, but suggested Americans may need to wear masks for longer.
“No, no, he didn’t mean it that way. I spoke to him about that. What he wants, he just wants — and it’s a good idea — uniform. He’s saying, ‘Hey folks, trust me, everybody for 100 days,'” Fauci said during an interview on the “Today” show Friday.
He went on, “Now it might be that after that, we’re still going to need it, but he just wants it, everybody for a commitment for 100 days. And I discussed that with him and I told him I thought that was a good idea.”
