DONALD TRUMP has falsely taken credit for the arrival of a coronavirus vaccine in the US, telling reporters there would not have been one for five years unless he was president.
His claims come despite the fact an immunisation programme began in the UK last week.
The US President’s remarks followed the announcement that the US Food and Drug Administration has given emergency approval to the use of the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine.
Trump made the inaccurate claims during an interview with Fox News.
He said: "If I wasn't president, according to almost everybody, even the enemy — if I wasn't president, you wouldn't have a vaccine for five years.”
Trump made similar claims on Twitter as the first FedEX and UPS trucks carrying doses of the vaccine left Pfizer’s manufacturing plant in Michigan that day.
“Vaccines are shipped and on their way, FIVE YEARS AHEAD OF SCHEDULE. Get well USA. Get well WORLD. We love you all!,” he tweeted.
Pfizer has disputed Trump’s claims and attempts to take credit for the vaccine under the government’s Operation Warp Speed programme.
While Pfizer was considered a “part” of the project because the US government placed an order for its vaccine, the company did not accept any US money for its work.
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