Bernie Sanders just pressed Senate hearing witness Brett Giroir, assistant secretary of health, that if (hopefully when) a successful vaccine is developed to immunize people against Covid-19 that it reaches all Americans “regardless of income” or any health situations.
Giroir said it was his office’s job to serve “all segments of society”.
When Sanders pressed him again on whether everyone would get the vaccine, Giroir began to say “they should, I do not represent..”
But Sanders cut him off, saying: “You represent an administration that makes that decision.”
Giroir asserted that, yes, all Americans would have access to the vaccine regardless of ability to pay, or any health factors.
First, what Sanders insisted on was both that the vaccine be provided all Americans free of charge and that no manufacturer make any profit on its production and sale.
The latter being an altogether gratuitous stab at the beating heart of capitalism, it seems to me.
Second, Giroir rightly protested neither could be guaranteed by him.
Surely guaranteeing either outcome would require congressional action to see that all costs were covered while no profit was made?
Doesn't seem something to be decided by "the administration" acting all on its own.
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