Sunday shows: Health officials anticipate vaccine distribution, warn of worsening pandemic

Health officials took to the Sunday morning political shows to express anticipation of a COVID-19 vaccine that could be days away from approval by emergency authorization and distributed to high-risk populations before the end of the year.

At the same time, they urged the public to wear masks and continue to practice social distancing, warning of dire months to come.

Separately, two senators said they were optimistic a coronavirus deal put together by centrists could win passage in the House and Senate.

The other big topic on Sunday was the presidential election and President Trump’s appearance at a rally in Georgia on Saturday, where he continued to claim he won a state where President-elect Biden took more votes.

Several officials appearing on Sunday shows had pushed back at Trump’s claims, with some expressing worry Trump could be hurting the GOP’s chances to win two Senate runoff elections in January.

Read The Hill’s complete coverage below.

Azar calls Biden claim on vaccine plan ‘nonsense’ BY ZACK BUDRYK   Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said President-elect Joe Biden’s statement that there “is not plan” to deliver a vaccine for the coronavirus to people across the country “nonsense” during an appearance Sunday on “Fox News Sunday.” Read the full story here

Slaoui on minority skepticism of vaccine: ‘Nobody’s being used as a guinea pig’ BY JUSTINE COLEMAN   The Trump administration’s vaccine czar Moncef Slaoui addressed minority skepticism of the coronavirus vaccine, saying “Nobody’s being used as a guinea pig.” Read the full story here

Birx says it’s ‘frustrating’ to hear public ‘parrot back’ false COVID-19 claims BY JUSTINE COLEMAN   Deborah Birx, the coordinator of the White House’s coronavirus task force, said Sunday that it’s “frustrating” to hear the public “parrot back” false claims about COVID-19, including that masks do not work.  Read the full story here

Azar tells Chris Wallace COVID-19 spikes about behavior, not Trump BY ZACK BUDRYK   Fox’s Chris Wallace pressed Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar on Sunday about whether President Trump’s vocal skepticism about face masks had exacerbated the coronavirus pandemic. Read the full story here

Operation Warp Speed chief predicts spring return to normality BY ZACK BUDRYK   Operation Warp Speed chief adviser Moncef Slaoui predicted Sunday that things will start to return to normal after the pandemic by April or May after a coronavirus vaccine likely is widely available.  Read the full story here

Centrist senators express optimism their COVID-19 relief bill will become law BY ZACK BUDRYK   A Senate Republican and Democrat each expressed confidence another coronavirus relief package would pass the chamber in interviews Sunday. Read the full story here

ABC’s Stephanopoulos to GOP senator on presidential race: ‘Why can’t you accept the results’ BY DOMINICK MASTRANGELO   ABC news anchor George Stephanopoulos pressed Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.) on Sunday about why he and many of his Republican colleagues have not publicly accepted the result of the 2020 presidential race.  Read the full story here

Georgia lieutenant governor says Trump claims will hurt GOP candidates in runoff BY JUSTINE COLEMAN   Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan (R) said Sunday that he is worried President Trump’s continued claims to have won an election he lost will hurt the state’s Senate GOP candidates in their Jan. 5 runoff by making GOP voters less likely to turn up at the polls. Read the full story here

Wallace interrupts Azar over Biden’s title: ‘He’s the president-elect’ BY DOMINICK MASTRANGELO   Fox News anchor Chris Wallace interrupted Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar on Sunday after Azar referred to Joe Biden as “vice president” rather than “president-elect.”  Read the full story here

GOP election official in Georgia says Trump’s false election statements ‘game of whack-a-mole’ BY JUSTINE COLEMAN   A top Georgia election official said Sunday that President Trump’s false election statements presented a “game of whack-a-mole” for the state’s officials. Read the full story here

Brennan has no problem with probe into Russia investigation extending into 2021 BY ZACK BUDRYK   Former CIA director John Brennan said Sunday he did not object to U.S. Attorney John Durham’s probe into the origin of the FBI’s Russia investigation extending into next year. Read the full story here