White House toils amid multiple crises on Labor Day

On Sep 6, 2021

On Afghanistan and the question of boosters for Covid-19 vaccines, there are signs that the administration’s previously steady touch has been less sure. As the Delta variant rampages across the country and after an Afghanistan pullout in which Biden appeared at times less than candid and willing to pass the buck, the President’s popularity has begun to hit the skids. In the latest NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll released last week, his approval rating fell to 43% — the lowest of his presidency so far and down 6 percentage points from July.

Presidential ratings often fluctuate. But keeping in healthy territory is critical for Biden and his Democratic Party ahead of the midterm elections next year that will decide whether his presidency is constrained by Republican majorities in the second half of his term. The new dip in his standing suggests the GOP, which struggled to wound the Biden presidency up until now, may be gaining some traction. Or possibly, the relentless crises of recent months may now be catching up to Biden.

Given that the President spent months pleading with Americans to take advantage of free, safe vaccines to protect themselves, the new wave of Covid-19 cases — now hitting more than 150,000 new infections a day and more than 1,000 deaths — is hardly the President’s fault. But incumbents inevitably get the blame when things go wrong. And the President did declare the pandemic all but over during his July Fourth celebration at the White House. The latest issue concerns the timing of booster shots for two-dose vaccine regimens. The White House originally announced that boosters would be available beginning the week of September 20 for people who got either of the mRNA vaccines made by Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna. But top health officials warned more time for research might be needed.

White House chief of staff Ron Klain told CNN’s Dana Bash on “State of the Union” Sunday that the administration had simply wanted to be ready once they got the go-ahead from government regulators like the US Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And he suggested that September 20 date was still a target for at least some doses.

“I would be absolutely clear, no one’s going to get boosters until the FDA says they’re approved, until the CDC advisory committee makes a recommendation. What we want to do, though, is be ready as soon as that comes,” Klain said.

Despite divides, Covid-19 vaccines are now as popular as Christmas trees

“We are still hopeful that at least one of the vaccinations could be available (on) that date,” he added.

The government’s top infectious diseases expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, explained that while Pfizer’s data seems to have satisfied regulators, Moderna might be a little behind, which may lead to a “sequential” rollout of the boosters.

“I don’t think that is a major issue there, but we would have liked to have seen it happen all together, simultaneously. But ultimately the plan will be implemented, as was originally put forth,” Fauci said on CNN’s “Newsroom”…