Back in May, NBC News fact-checked President Donald Trump’s claim that a coronavirus vaccine would be here by the end of the year. Now, it is getting called out as vaccinations began in the U.S. on Monday.
MSNBC producer Kyle Griffin tweeted that the vaccine would likely not be available in 2020 despite Trump’s claims. Now, Trump supporters, no fans of Griffin’s anti-Trump tweets, are revisiting that as COVID-19 vaccines roll out.
“NBC Fact check: Coronavirus vaccine could come this year, Trump says. Experts say he needs a ‘miracle’ to be right,” Griffin tweeted in May.
At the time, experts like CDC director Dr. Anthony Fauci did not expect a vaccine this year. In April, Fauci told USA Today that early 2021 would be more likely. NBC reported that experts were in agreement about this timeline.
Despite previous vaccination development precedent, the COVID-19 vaccine sped through approval processes. The Food and Drug Administration issued emergency approval for Pfizer’s vaccine on Friday. Pfizer is the first biotech company of several to produce a successful vaccine, which began announcing results in late November.
Now, Twitter users are trolling the tweet that said a vaccine in 2020 would be a “miracle.”
“Fact check: Media outlets are incredibly and pathetically biased and don’t report facts. Also a Fact check:,” one person replied.
“And a miracle did happen, we had this president-when this worldwide pandemic happened. If it was another administration it would have taken several years, 95% effective rate is amazing. Thank Goodness 4 our amazing scientists + this administration,” another added.
“Fact check: A truly amazing miracle happened today,” someone else said.
“Fact check: miracle worker,” another Trump supporter posted.
“Narrator: he got the miracle,” one user posted.
Shipments of the Pfizer vaccine began over the weekend and healthcare workers in New York City received their first doses today. The Trump administration secured vaccines for 50 million Americans from the company.