USA / US will have millions of COVID-19 vaccine doses by 2020-end: Pence

Washington: Senator Kamala Harris, running mate to US Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, on Thursday (October 8) slammed US President Donald Trump and branded the country's response to the Covid-19 pandemic under Trump as the "greatest failure" of any US administration. Harris launched the scathing attack as the debate between her and Vice President Mike Pence opened at 6:30 AM IST.

"The American people have witnessed what is the greatest failure of any presidential administration in the history of our country," Harris, the first Indian-origin American on the US election ballot, said.

"President and vice president were informed of the pandemic on January 28, and they did not act. They tried to cover it up, President called it a hoax," she added.

Pence defence President Trump and said that his decision to cancel travel from China was the single most important decision that helped save many lives. He added that from the very first day, President Trump has put the health of the American people first.

"Under President Trump's leadership, Operation Warp Speed, we believe we'll have literally tens of millions of vaccine doses by the end of this year," said Pence.

Pence then referenced a controversy that led to the failure of Biden's first presidential campaign in 1988 and said that Democrats' Covid plan sounds "a little bit like plagiarism, which is something Joe Biden knows a little bit about."

Talking about the issue of climate change, Pence said, "US has reduced CO2 more than countries that are still in Paris climate accord. We've done it through innovation & natural gas. Biden &Harris would put us back in Paris climate accord, they would impose new green deal which would crush Americal energy."

Harris said that millions with pre-existing medical conditions will lose their insurance coverage in the middle of a pandemic if the Trump administration decides to repeal affordable care.

"Mike Pence claimed that the White House has "always" told the truth about Covid-19.  Let's talk about respecting the American people. You respect the American people when you tell them the truth," Harris said.

Referring to the issue of immigration, Senator Harris mentioned her immigrant mother and said, "The fact that I am sitting here will make her proud. I think about my mother... the fact that I am sitting here right now would make her proud. It is because of my mother who came to US at 19, gave birth to me at 25. I think I am sitting here that will make her proud. Joe and I have share purpose about lifting people."

During the debate, Harris and Pence fielded questions surrounding coronavirus, climate change, immigration, foreign policy, among other things. 

The debate between Harris and Pence comes after last week's fiery presidential debate in which Biden told Donald Trump to "shut up" and called him a "clown".