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President Joe Biden appeared to be at odds with his top scientist in the pandemic fight, Dr. Anthony Fauci, about whether former president Donald Trump should urge his supporters to get vaccinated, given a poll that shows they are the Americans most likely not to get the shots. "Should President Trump help promote the vaccine amongst skeptics, sir? Especially those Republicans who say that they’re not willing ... ," a reporter at the White House asked Biden at the end of an event Monday. (Stoddart, 3/15)

The Biden administration on Monday indicated it would welcome former President Trump getting more involved in vaccine outreach efforts, but signaled it would spend its time investing in local doctors and community leaders who might convince skeptical conservatives to get the shot. "If former President Trump woke up tomorrow and wanted to be more vocal about the safety and efficacy of the campaign, of the vaccine, certainly we’d support that," White House press secretary Psaki said at a briefing with reporters. (Samuels, 3/15)

Adm. Brett Giroir, former President Trump's coronavirus testing czar, said Monday that it is “very important” for the former president to encourage his supporters to get vaccinated. “I think it's very important for former President Trump, as well as the vice president, to actively encourage all the followers to get the vaccine,” Giroir, the former assistant secretary for health at the Department of Health and Human Services, told Jake Tapper on CNN’s “The Lead” on Monday. (Schnell, 3/15)

Republicans and supporters of Donald Trump are the least likely to say they will seek a COVID-19 vaccine when one becomes available to them. That has led to calls for the former president to speak out more forcefully to encourage his supporters to get vaccinated. "I think it's very important for former President Trump, as well as the [former] vice president [Mike Pence], to actively encourage all of their followers to get the vaccine," Adm. Brett Giroir, who was the coronavirus testing czar in the Trump administration, said Monday afternoon on CNN. (Montanaro, 3/16)

Also —

Be honest that scientists don’t have all the answers. Tout the number of people who got the vaccines in trials. And don’t show pro-vaccine ads with politicians — not even ones with Donald Trump. That’s what a focus group of vaccine-hesitant Trump voters insisted to politicians and pollsters this weekend, as public health leaders rush to win over the tens of millions of Republicans who say they don’t plan to get a coronavirus shot. (Diamond, 3/15)

“The way I feel about it is: I don’t need the vaccine at this point,” she said. “And I’m not going to get the vaccine until it is well established.” That sentiment demonstrates the challenge ahead for public health officials as the U.S. intensifies its efforts for widespread vaccinations that could put an end to a devastating pandemic that has left more than 530,000 dead. The campaign could falter if it becomes another litmus test in America’s raging culture wars, just as mandates for mask-wearing were a point of polarization at the onset of the virus. (Colvin and Hollingsworth, 3/16)