U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and Democratic challenger Kamala Harris have taken the stage in their only debate on Wednesday at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City.

Sitting behind plexiglass and taking their seats at desks 3.6 meters (12 feet) apart, the two vice presidential candidates clashed on the Trump administration's handling of COVID-19 with Harris calling the U.S. COVID response the "greatest failure" in presidential history.

"The American people have witnessed what is the greatest failure of any presidential administration in the history of our country," Harris said in opening remarks at the debate moderated by Susan Page, USA Today Washington Bureau Chief.

Pence responded that "President Donald Trump has put the health of America first" from the very first day and defended the administration has "always" told the American people the truth.

The U.S. death toll from the pandemic has exceeded 211,000, with over 7.5 million people infected, the highest reported totals in the world, according to the latest tally from John Hopkins University. 

Other points of debate

Vaccine: The duo on stage emphasized the importance of developing a COVID-19 vaccine. When asked if they would inoculate the vaccine, Harris said if the experts say they should take it, she'll be first in line.

"If the public health professionals, if Dr. Fauci, if the doctors tell us that we should take it, I'll be the first in line to take it absolutely, but if Donald Trump tells us to take it, I'm not taking it," said Harris.

Pence accused Harris of undermining public confidence in a vaccine.

Taxes: Harris and Pence disagreed about whether Joe Biden will raise taxes. Pence repeatedly stated that "On Day One, Joe Biden's going to raise your taxes" despite Harris clarifying several times that he will not raise taxes on anybody that who makes less than $400,000 a year.

Pence also denied a New York Times report on Trump's tax avoidance.

Climate change: Pence acknowledged that "the climate is changing" but voiced against the Green New Deal.

"We don't need a massive $2 trillion Green New Deal that would impose all new mandates on American businesses and American families."

"We have seen a pattern with this administration, which is they don't believe in science," Harris said.

Harris also quoted Trump's remark of dismissing climate science in California Wildfire discussion last month when he said "I don't think science knows, actually."