Murray Criticizes Republicans for Failing to Require End-to-End National Vaccines Plan, Ensure Eventual Vaccine is Available Cost Free

Murray: “This proposal still falls far short of what we need to do to ensure we develop and produce at scale a safe, effective vaccine that is cost free for all and widely and equitably distributed and administered—which is the only way we are going to end this crisis.”

Murray: “We need to take action to make sure the investments we make benefit public health, not just pharmaceutical companies. Which is why we must provide funding that ensures CDC isn’t shortchanged or sidelined when it comes to vaccine distribution and administration.”

Murray: “Anything that doesn’t guarantee anyone can get a vaccine free of charge, isn’t going to cut it.”

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, released the following statement criticizing Republicans’ recent COVID-19 proposals for failing to include a requirement the Trump Administration develop, publish, and implement a comprehensive, end-to-end national vaccines plan or ensure a vaccine will be available to patients free of cost.

“I’ve been pressing Republicans to start thinking about the steps we need to take now on vaccines to make sure we don’t lose any more ground in our fight against this disease. I’m glad they’re starting to listen and support sufficient funding, but this proposal still falls far short of what we need to do to ensure we develop and produce at scale a safe, effective vaccine that is cost free for all and widely and equitably distributed and administered—which is the only way we are going to end this crisis.

“While it’s about time Republicans acknowledged we need to make serious investments in vaccines, this is also going to take thoughtful, leadership and planning as well as careful oversight—especially with this Administration at the wheel. We need to take action to make sure the investments we make benefit public health, not just pharmaceutical companies. Which is why we must provide funding that ensures CDC isn’t shortchanged or sidelined when it comes to vaccine distribution and administration. We also need to require a comprehensive, end-to-end national vaccines plan that addresses supply chain issues, health disparities, vaccine confidence, and more.

“And we must take action to make sure a vaccine is available at no cost. Anything that doesn’t guarantee anyone can get a vaccine free of charge, isn’t going to cut it. Democrats have ideas for how we take that important step—including having the federal government buy the necessary vaccine, like we did for H1N1, and we’re going to keep pressing Republicans to address this fundamental issue.”

Senator Murray recently put out a white paper laying out the steps needed to make sure COVID-19 vaccines are safe, effective, high quality, produced at scale, allocated in a manner that optimizes public health and reduces health disparities, free and accessible to everyone, and widely embraced by the public.

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