TERRIBLE—Trump says US won’t join a global effort to develop, manufacture and equitably distribute a coronavirus vaccine.

Absolutely terrible. It will hurt us in the long run because this is a pandemic that affects the world damnit. #COVID19 https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/coronavirus-vaccine-trump/2020/09/01/b44b42be-e965-11ea-bf44-0d31c85838a5_story.html

2) “More than 170 countries are in talks to participate in the #Covid19 Vaccines Global Access (Covax) Facility to speed vaccine development and secure doses for all countries and distribute them to the most high-risk segment of each population.”

3) “The plan, which is co-led by the WHO, Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations and Gavi, the vaccine alliance, was of interest to some members of the Trump administration and is backed by traditional U.S. allies, including Japan, Germany and the European Commission.”

4) “But the United States will not participate, in part because the White House does not want to work with the WHO” effing insane. Shooting ourselves in the foot!

5) It is also dumb because it puts all out eggs in a limited basket of US funded vaccines. But there’s dozens more part of COVAX consortium we could have access to if we joined. Turning down an insurance policy during a pandemic is nonsensical and madness.

6) Worse—“Some members of the Trump administration were interested in a more cooperative approach but were ultimately overruled. HHS Alex Azar and Deputy Sec of State Stephen Biegun had interest in exploring some type of role in Covax, a senior official said, speaking anonymously