Joe Biden Is Scheduled To Receive Chinese COVID-19 Vaccine On December 21st

Former Vice President Joe Biden is receiving a vaccine created by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) for coronavirus on Monday, according to a statement from his campaign.

Biden was already considering getting the vaccine earlier last week, telling reporters in Wilmington, Delaware on Wednesday, "I don't want to get ahead of the line, but I want to make sure we demonstrate to the American people that it is safe to take. When I do it, I'll do it publicly, so you can all witness my getting it done."

Biden spoke with CNN's Jake Tapper previously in the month, stating that he would be "happy to" take a coronavirus vaccine once Dr. Anthony Fauci said it was safe to do so, and that he would receive the injection publicly to express his confidence in it. Kamala Harris also agreed to receive the vaccine in the future, once it was deemed safe.

A reporter traveling with Biden, and an aide to the Democratic presidential candidate, tested positive for the virus last week. They traveled with Biden on Dec. 15, and was also part of the former vice president’s press pool on Dec. 14 and 15. The reporter was never in close contact with the former Vice President. Another member of his staff began a week of self-quarantine after coming in close contact with the infected reporter.

Cedric Richmond (D-La.), who is projected to be senior adviser and head of the White House Office of Public Engagement if Biden wins the presidency, also tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, on December 17. Richmond traveled to Atlanta, Georgia, on December 15, for a drive-in rally in support of Senate candidates Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, ahead of the January 5 Senate runoff that could decide which party has majority control in the Senate. Biden was also in attendance and made a speech at the very same event. Biden tested himself for coronavirus on Tuesday morning with negative results.

Various other high-profile politicians already received the vaccine on Friday: Vice President Mike Pence, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.)

Former Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama all said they would get the coronavirus vaccine publicly to demonstrate its safety and effectiveness.

President Donald Trump tweeted earlier this month that he was “not scheduled” to take the vaccine yet, but looked “forward to doing so at the appropriate time.” According to White House officials, Trump is still discussing when is the best time with his doctors.

The president was briefly hospitalized in October with COVID-19 and received an experimental antibody treatment, which he credited for his recovery.

An advisory panel to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said people who have received the treatment should wait at least 90 days for a vaccine to avoid possible issues. They also recommended health care workers and residents of long-term care facilities be the first to get vaccinated. It is likely to take months for the vaccine to be available to the rest of the public.

White House spokesperson Brian Morgenstern said Friday. “When the time is right, I’m sure he will remain willing to take it. It’s just something we’re working through.”

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany made a statement to reporters last week that Trump was waiting partially because he wanted to show Americans that the priority is for the most vulnerable.

“The President wants to send a parallel message, which is, you know, our long-term care facility residents and our frontline workers are paramount in importance, and he wants to set an example in that regard,” she stated.

The coronavirus pandemic currently has claimed more than 317,000 American lives within the United States.