These scientists carry the hopes of our nation, our entire nation, in the entire world.

When their work comes to fruition, and it will, there will be no doubt it will save lives. But scientific breakthroughs don't care about

calendars any more than the virus does. They certainly don't adhere to election cycles. And their timing, their

approval, and their distributions should never ever be distorted by

political considerations. They should be determined by science and safety alone.

A vaccine would offer a way back to normalcy and a path toward better days for all of us,

not only here, but around the world.

But it's not going to happen overnight.

Once we have it, it's going to take months to distribute it

to the entire population. I'm more hopeful than ever in the power of science to get us there.

But one thing is certain, we can't allow politics to interfere with a vaccine in any way.

Americans have had to endure President Trump's incompetence and dishonesty

when it comes to testing and personal protective equipment. and The stakes are too high. American families have already suffered and sacrificed too much.

So let me be clear.

I trust vaccines.

I trust scientists, but I don't trust Donald Trump.

And at this moment, the American people can't either.

Last week, Senator Harris and I laid out three questions this administration is going to have

to answer to assure the American people that politics will not play a role whatsoever in the vaccine process.

If Donald Trump can't give answers and administration can't give answers

these three questions, the American people should not have confidence. But if they can, they should have confidence in the transparency they need to trust a vaccine and adopt it in numbers that will make a difference.

First question, what criteria will be used to ensure that a vaccine meets the scientific standard

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