Jeff Mason

(Reuters) – President Joe Biden has been criticised by health professionals for his handling of a recent spike in COVID-19 deaths and cases ahead the New Year and Christmas holidays.

Biden was a Democrat and took office in January promising to end the coronavirus. Biden presided over an enormous vaccine rollout, and passed the $1.9 trillion Pandemic Relief Package. This contrasts sharply with Republican Donald Trump who dismissed preventive measures, downplayed its severity and crippled experts.

Biden’s eleven-month term has ended, but the United States still has 800,000 COVID-19 death, more than 300,000 of them under his watch. This is the highest number and per capita of all the Group of Seven countries (G70 richest nations). Some hospitals are experiencing record-breaking numbers of COVID-19 cases as Omicron variation bears down, and holiday crowds gather.

Biden’s push for vaccination has resulted in 65.2 percent of the eligible populaiton being fully vaccinated according to U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This figure may be lower than 50% in some states due to Republican opposition. A booster shot is believed to be necessary in order to protect Omicron from less than 30%.

Experts in health said that the administration should push for mask wear, put pressure on businesses to lower the costs of testing, and share vaccine technology globally. They also need to secure additional funding to combat the pandemic. Many felt that the White House has let these measures slip while it focuses on getting people vaccinated.

“Where is leadership that demands national sacrifice during times of emergencies?” Gregg Gonsalves at Yale University is an associate professor in epidemiology. Biden should be “on TV tonight” and tell Gregg Gonsalves, an associate professor of epidemiology at Yale University: “I want you mask up.” He stated.

While the White House repeatedly claimed it had all the tools necessary to defeat Omicron and not close schools or businesses, they also pledged more tests and booster distribution.

Biden will be speaking on Tuesday to discuss new plans. His message to Americans who have not been vaccinated is to get one and to those who have to booster their vaccines.

The reality is that professional sporting leagues and universities, as well as Broadway theatres, are cancelling or postponing many events due to COVID-19.

U.S. POLITICS ON THE COVID

Political resistance to the pandemic was Biden’s greatest challenge.

Although there are many safe and free vaccines available, the misinformation and opposition to health measures that have spread via social media platforms, largely driven by Republican politicians, and conservative media has repelled his attempts to convince a portion of the U.S. public to get vaccinated.

The government promised to clamp down early on on misinformation from private corporations about vaccines, but the problem persists.

“I believe they underestimated that the anti-vaccine campaign was first and foremost an ideological movement,” Dr. Peter Hotez from Baylor College of Medicine, said. He said that anti-science aggression by the far right is the leading cause of death for young adults and middle-aged Americans.

White House sought to make the subject less political by sending officials from the health sector onto Fox News. However, conservative commentators on the cable channel have questioned the effectiveness of vaccines and other masks.

Despite their sometimes significant differences, the White House sees Fox News as an important outlet to disseminate public health information, including on Biden’s Omicron strategy, a White House official said. The president has had a dispute with Republican governors whose policies are not compatible with his own. His rhetoric is less political and focuses more on encouraging people to get shots. He issued a dire warning on Thursday. He predicted a winter full of severe illness and death for anyone who is not vaccinated.

MASK SUPPLIES AND TEST ARE AN ISSUE

Biden announced earlier this month that the government would demand private insurance companies to reimburse 150 million of their customers for over-the-counter COVID-19 test costs. In addition, 50 million free tests will be made available through health centers and rural clinics for the uninsured.

Critics label that unacceptable.

“There are more Americans without insurance than that. And what were we supposed to do but one quick test? Angela Rasmussen from the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization of University of Saskatchewan (Canada) said that these policies were completely insufficient.

The rising demand for COVID-19 testing from U.S. companies bringing back employees to work has exacerbated the nationwide shortage in fall rapid tests, increasing costs for local and state testing programs.

Recent spikes in case numbers have caused long waiting lists and forced Americans to scramble to get at-home testing at their local pharmacies or online. White House stated that there are thousands of sites offering free tests across the country. The supply of home tests has increased by four times and that a dozen additional rapid tests are available.

“We’re working with governors and state and local health officials to add more capacity,” a White House official said. “We’re also working with manufacturers to expand capacity.”

Tom Frieden, former Director CDC of Medicines and Health Services told Reuters that mask-wearing should be promoted by the Administration. He suggested that subsidies or distribution of masks might help.

“Masks… and vaccination are the most critical interventions. It’s still very difficult for people to determine the quality of masks they buy, as well as to obtain masks at an affordable price. “It’s still too wild out there in terms market,” he stated.

Omicron is not the only Omicron variant causing the current global crisis. In fact, large numbers of citizens in developing countries are unvaccinated. The virus has room to evolve.

Experts believe that the Biden administration could do more to provide vaccines for the rest of the globe and protect other Americans.

Gonsalves said that “there’s been sort-of an ongoing battle to the White House in doing more”, noting that Omicron was imported from elsewhere.