PENNSYLVANIA – Today, Pat Toomey is joining President for a town hall in Scranton while the Trump administration is bungling the fight against the Coronavirus epidemic. Just earlier this week, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar even admitted that he couldn’t assure that the vaccine would be affordable for all Americans.
“Tonight Pat Toomey is standing with Donald Trump as his administration is getting ready to ration Coronavirus vaccines for the rich,” said Beth Melena, senior communications advisor for the Pennsylvania Democratic Party. “If there is one thing we can count on Pat Toomey for, it’s putting his rich friends ahead of the rest of Pennsylvanians.”
BACKGROUND
“In testimony to Congress the following day, Azar was pressed by Illinois Rep. Jan Schakowsky to affirm that a vaccine “would be affordable for anyone who needs it.” He replied: “We would want to ensure that we’d work to make it affordable, but we can’t control that price because we need the private sector to invest.” He is indicating here that the pharmaceutical industry would be setting the price of the vaccine, so the government could not ensure its affordability. This isn’t unusual, but can be disastrous in the context of an epidemic.” [CNN, 3/5/20]
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