While an effective COVID-19 vaccine is still being pursued, Senate Democrats released a white paper this week full of proposals to guarantee such vaccines would be provided safely, efficiently and free, while ensuring a distribution wide enough to counter the pandemic.
In all, the paper — released by U.S. Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), the top Democrat on the Senate health committee — called for $25 billion in emergency funding for vaccine efforts. This money would go toward addressing production, distribution, cost, health disparities, growing resistance to vaccine use among the populace, and other concerns.
“Our best hope to end this pandemic is one or more safe, effective vaccines that are widely available and taken up by people across the country—Congress must act now to make sure this happens,” Murray said. “That’s why Democrats are putting down a clear marker about what needs to happen to make sure we get this right. Rapidly and equitably developing, producing, distributing, and administering hundreds of millions of doses of vaccine will be a massive challenge, demanding effective management, discipline, and transparency. Unfortunately, this Administration has a poor track record on all three.”
Specifically, Democrats’ plans called for eight areas of focus to guarantee the most effective vaccine:
- A national strategic plan;
- $25 billion for emergency vaccine and vaccination activity funding;
- Providing vaccines without cost;
- Holding vaccine development and scientific reviews to high standards;
- Scaling vaccine manufacturing and addressing supply chain issues;
- Fair distribution;
- Creating a widespread vaccine administration; and
- Continuing safety and surveillance after a product reaches market.
Democrats also lambasted the Trump administration for its efforts on the pandemic to-date, citing testing shortages and other supply chain issues, health disparities, and contradicting health officials as mistakes not to be repeated going forward. The white paper followed the release of a detailed report of these problems, which Murray labeled part of chaotic testing efforts.
“We can’t afford any more mistakes that put people’s lives in jeopardy and waste time we don’t have,” Murray said. “It’s time for Republicans to stop making excuses for President Trump’s failed leadership, and start working with Democrats on solutions to finally get our response on track.”