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Tom Yossarian Joad

(19,211 posts)
Thu Feb 27, 2020, 12:58 AM Feb 2020

Trump administration says the coronavirus vaccine might not be affordable for all Americans

Source: Business Insider

Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar on Wednesday declined to promise that a coronavirus vaccine would be affordable for all Americans.

"We would want to ensure that we work to make it affordable, but we can't control that price because we need the private sector to invest," Azar told members of Congress during a hearing concerning the coronavirus outbreak and the administration's budget request. "Price controls won't get us there."

Democrats and other critics quickly condemned Azar.

"Secretary Azar is refusing to promise that a Coronavirus vaccine will be affordable to every American. Kick them out of office," Sen. Brian Schatz, a Hawaii Democrat, tweeted Wednesday evening.

The progressive group Center for American Progress tweeted, "This is a global health crisis, and everyone should have the right to medication that will help protect them from this virus."

/snip

Read more: https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-administration-says-coronavirus-vaccine-may-not-be-affordable-2020-2



A culling?
59 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Trump administration says the coronavirus vaccine might not be affordable for all Americans (Original Post) Tom Yossarian Joad Feb 2020 OP
Culling of the herd? sheshe2 Feb 2020 #1
This message was self-deleted by its author doc03 Feb 2020 #2
Die, Peasants, Die! not fooled Feb 2020 #3
And the irony is... Wuddles440 Feb 2020 #47
Trump's admin would just have to work that out. Clearly, an effective vaccine, Hoyt Feb 2020 #4
Don't worry! The 'right' kind of people will be covered. keithbvadu2 Feb 2020 #5
And Howze the wall coming along? Hey! We could...- nah! forget it! mpcamb Feb 2020 #39
Azar tells millions of Americans to drop dead Midnightwalk Feb 2020 #6
So that's what he was talking about in his plan for homeless people in San Francisco & Los Angeles. NBachers Feb 2020 #7
Government funds the research and gets the patent. What's so complicated? Flaleftist Feb 2020 #8
But they drowned the government in a bathtub Nonhlanhla Feb 2020 #38
No sh*t, sherlock. elleng Feb 2020 #9
This is interesting: Flaleftist Feb 2020 #10
Yes, most interesting. Duppers Feb 2020 #53
Let me guess, if you don't have meds covered in your healthcare plan, applegrove Feb 2020 #11
In normal states Blackjackdavey Feb 2020 #41
That's meaningless, given there's no vaccine as yet. PoindexterOglethorpe Feb 2020 #12
It's not meaningless in terms of this shitheel's attitude ... mr_lebowski Feb 2020 #27
One is going to trial right now DeminPennswoods Feb 2020 #31
A Little Reminder DallasNE Feb 2020 #13
We have billionaires instead of millionaires Warpy Feb 2020 #15
Government bean counters decided Aussie105 Feb 2020 #17
Assuming the media isn't 'in the tank' durablend Feb 2020 #42
milton friedman and the disaster capitalism changed that. nt Javaman Feb 2020 #56
His rotten class think killing off low wage workers is a great idea Warpy Feb 2020 #14
the fascist healthcare system, get sick, die quick. nt yaesu Feb 2020 #16
Only in America Aussie105 Feb 2020 #18
Only The Uninsured Would Be At Risk Of Not Being Able to Afford the Vaccine Indykatie Feb 2020 #19
If it's anything like the goveremnt shut down, Apple Fritter Feb 2020 #20
Silicon Valley is pretty close to the new virus patient BigmanPigman Feb 2020 #22
"we need the private sector to invest" PSPS Feb 2020 #21
I said this to myself days ago... BigmanPigman Feb 2020 #23
Bring Out YER Dead! BootinUp Feb 2020 #24
Look, you're not fooling anyone ... you'll be stone dead in a moment ... nt mr_lebowski Feb 2020 #29
I'm feeling much better. BootinUp Feb 2020 #46
We're on the lower floors of the Titanic, folks. Women, children and rich men on lifeboats, only. C Moon Feb 2020 #25
As Dr. Fauci said at Trump's press conference today, the vaccine won't be ready for 12-18 months. SunSeeker Feb 2020 #26
That's probably not true based on this information DeminPennswoods Feb 2020 #32
Dr. Fauci is head of Infectious Diseases at NIH, who would be testing the vaccine, so he would know. SunSeeker Feb 2020 #33
Can you believe anything anyone Trump puts in front of mic DeminPennswoods Feb 2020 #34
Wow... OfTheBottom99Percent Feb 2020 #28
"everyone should have the right to medication that will help protect them from this virus." progree Feb 2020 #30
He wants to pick who gets medical help or not now, that should scare the hell out of everyone duforsure Feb 2020 #35
But there's no death panels, silly! durablend Feb 2020 #43
But socialism means rationing and not everyone gets everything they need though ck4829 Feb 2020 #36
Not surprising. Are the clinics doing a credit check first? CaptYossarian Feb 2020 #37
Got to take care of Trump donors first IronLionZion Feb 2020 #40
Unspeakable and unconscionable bucolic_frolic Feb 2020 #44
But trumps excessive golf trips duforsure Feb 2020 #45
Not to mention the wall. JudyM Feb 2020 #55
It will then be stolen. Baked Potato Feb 2020 #48
In reality they won't be available to everyone right away anyway forthemiddle Feb 2020 #49
This plays right into the hands of anti-vaxxers who claim that vaccines are a Aristus Feb 2020 #50
WTF? Pachamama Feb 2020 #51
Remember the "death panel" bullshit from these same fucks? rzemanfl Feb 2020 #52
depopulation? SummerSnow Feb 2020 #54
This is deeply disturbing. Karma13612 Feb 2020 #57
This message was self-deleted by its author geralmar Feb 2020 #58
It's a god-send... stillcool Feb 2020 #59

Response to Tom Yossarian Joad (Original post)

not fooled

(5,791 posts)
3. Die, Peasants, Die!
Thu Feb 27, 2020, 01:10 AM
Feb 2020

Says red don, gleeful at the prospect of eliminating some useless eaters.

If a Dem president said such a thing, the QAnon-type crazies would be bellowing about a conspiracy to kill off 'Muricans.



Wuddles440

(1,098 posts)
47. And the irony is...
Thu Feb 27, 2020, 11:27 AM
Feb 2020

that many of those QAnon cultist are the very ones that will lack the necessary financial resources to purchase such a vaccine. Of course, most would probably be more than willing to sacrifice themselves for Dear Leader anyway.

 

Hoyt

(54,770 posts)
4. Trump's admin would just have to work that out. Clearly, an effective vaccine,
Thu Feb 27, 2020, 01:10 AM
Feb 2020

rushed to market, would be worth a lot of money. Government, insurers, life insurance companies, healthcare profiteers, etc., would just have to kick in a reasonable amount through taxes or whatever.

keithbvadu2

(36,360 posts)
5. Don't worry! The 'right' kind of people will be covered.
Thu Feb 27, 2020, 01:12 AM
Feb 2020

Don't worry! The 'right' kind of people will be covered.

Midnightwalk

(3,131 posts)
6. Azar tells millions of Americans to drop dead
Thu Feb 27, 2020, 01:14 AM
Feb 2020

I want that ad.

Immoral leech telling us some companies profit is more important than controlling a pandemic.

Most people can’t afford to self quarantine either.

I know the vaccine isn’t expected to start human trials until April but what an example of how much rich people are ready to fuck us over.

elleng

(130,126 posts)
9. No sh*t, sherlock.
Thu Feb 27, 2020, 01:22 AM
Feb 2020

'"We would want to ensure that we work to make it affordable, but we can't control that price because we need the private sector to invest," Azar told members of Congress during a hearing concerning the coronavirus outbreak and the administration's budget request. "Price controls won't get us there."

Democrats and other critics quickly condemned Azar.

"Secretary Azar is refusing to promise that a Coronavirus vaccine will be affordable to every American. Kick them out of office," Sen. Brian Schatz, a Hawaii Democrat, tweeted Wednesday evening.'

Flaleftist

(3,473 posts)
10. This is interesting:
Thu Feb 27, 2020, 01:29 AM
Feb 2020

(7 paragraphs down)......But the government has a potentially powerful safety valve at its disposal to counteract outrageous pricing by the pharmaceutical industry. Under 28 U.S.C. § 1498 (“Section 1498”), the federal government has the power to use or manufacture any patented product, and must provide only “reasonable” compensation to the patent holder. The government could therefore elect to either contract with another manufacturer to produce a cheap generic version of expensive patented drugs. Or it could use the threat of Section 1498 to negotiate a license from the brand-name manufacturer to use their drugs at a steep discount.


https://www.peoplespolicyproject.org/2017/10/02/the-government-can-legally-commandeer-drug-patents/

applegrove

(118,006 posts)
11. Let me guess, if you don't have meds covered in your healthcare plan,
Thu Feb 27, 2020, 01:34 AM
Feb 2020

you will get sick. And you are already pretty poor. And maybe pretty Democratic.

Blackjackdavey

(177 posts)
41. In normal states
Thu Feb 27, 2020, 09:22 AM
Feb 2020

Everyone has access to healthcare coverage, especially poor people. It is the... resolute, rugged individualists, independent contractors and business owners, etc. who don't have coverage and who are most likely to be unable to afford the medicine. Therefore, this administration will indeed find a way for them to afford it. They just may not know that yet.

 

mr_lebowski

(33,643 posts)
27. It's not meaningless in terms of this shitheel's attitude ...
Thu Feb 27, 2020, 03:30 AM
Feb 2020

Which basically amounts to ... if you're poor, you're fucked, nothing the gov't can do cause profits don't you know!

DeminPennswoods

(15,246 posts)
31. One is going to trial right now
Thu Feb 27, 2020, 04:04 AM
Feb 2020

It was developed by a biomedical company in MA based on the virus' DNA sequence that was released by the Chinese researchers.

Aussie105

(5,211 posts)
17. Government bean counters decided
Thu Feb 27, 2020, 01:58 AM
Feb 2020

it would be cheaper to prevent polio than to have large numbers of permanently crippled people sucking up the welfare budget.

So it was free.

Personal note: Adopted daughter came from Vietnam at the end of the 'Nam war. She has a polio crippled leg that stopped growing.
Many operations as she grew to adulthood to correct blood flow in her crippled leg, permanent caliper to help her walk, now on permanent disability pension. Costs picked up by the Australian Government over those decades since the 'Nam war, no questions asked.

Such an Evil Socialist Government, here in Australia, right?

Corona virus vaccine will be the same. Cheaper to vaccinate rather than deal with the other possible outcome.
People dropping dead in the middle of the street is not a good look on the evening news.

Of course, in a society that is focused on social equity and fairness and on a government doing the best for it's citizens, it would be assumed it would be free, or very heavily subsidized by the government.



durablend

(7,414 posts)
42. Assuming the media isn't 'in the tank'
Thu Feb 27, 2020, 09:30 AM
Feb 2020

"Cheaper to vaccinate rather than deal with the other possible outcome.
People dropping dead in the middle of the street is not a good look on the evening news."


"You're not seeing people dying in the street--all fake news to make the president look bad"

(that's assuming they report it at all)

Warpy

(110,900 posts)
14. His rotten class think killing off low wage workers is a great idea
Thu Feb 27, 2020, 01:53 AM
Feb 2020

Wait until he runs out of hamberders and Diet Coke.

Asshole. If nobody makes a buck, they're not interested. The words "public health" are meaningless to them.

Aussie105

(5,211 posts)
18. Only in America
Thu Feb 27, 2020, 02:01 AM
Feb 2020

would a talking head seriously mention something that amounts to ethnic cleansing. (Just substitute 'ethnic' with 'poor', there.)

Indykatie

(3,691 posts)
19. Only The Uninsured Would Be At Risk Of Not Being Able to Afford the Vaccine
Thu Feb 27, 2020, 02:06 AM
Feb 2020

We need a bill to guarantee the vaccine is provided to the uninsured at no cost. Anyone with Medicaid, Employer Insurance, market place plans etc will get the vaccine free thanks to Obamacare that mandated all Vaccines be covered at 100% by ALL health plans.

Apple Fritter

(131 posts)
20. If it's anything like the goveremnt shut down,
Thu Feb 27, 2020, 02:06 AM
Feb 2020

Trump with feel the full pressure of the economy breaking or stalling to a complete halt if normal citizens can't get vaccine for themselves or their loved ones. Schools and transportation will shut down and then everything will have a trickle down effect. Hell if Silicon valley had an outbreak that could crash the world economy on it's own.

I mean all this could happen , but at what point do we all go outside to protest if most of us are sick?

PSPS

(13,512 posts)
21. "we need the private sector to invest"
Thu Feb 27, 2020, 02:13 AM
Feb 2020

Translation: "We want to maintain that campaign contribution money-laundering channel. The more profit they make, the more they "contribute" to our PAC's."

BigmanPigman

(51,430 posts)
23. I said this to myself days ago...
Thu Feb 27, 2020, 02:34 AM
Feb 2020

I have almost no immune system and have the ACA with tax credits. I have to not only think about my two permanent, no cure illnesses but also how I am going to pay for the treatment AND still be able to pay my bills. If lose the ACA I might as well be dead (honestly). The fucking moron would love to see me and others who are in my situation shrivel up and die. They do not care. Period.

SunSeeker

(51,367 posts)
26. As Dr. Fauci said at Trump's press conference today, the vaccine won't be ready for 12-18 months.
Thu Feb 27, 2020, 03:05 AM
Feb 2020

It won't be available any time soon for any price.

DeminPennswoods

(15,246 posts)
32. That's probably not true based on this information
Thu Feb 27, 2020, 04:08 AM
Feb 2020

which says that a potential vaccine has already been shipped to NIH for testing.

https://news.yahoo.com/buzzy-biotech-moderna-looking-options-145700305.html

On Tuesday, Moderna shipped the first batches of its experimental vaccine to the National Institutes of Health. US health officials will lead the first clinical trial, planning to test the vaccine for safety in healthy adults.

While the NIH prepares to start that study, Moderna executives said they are "looking at all options" to boost manufacturing capabilities. The buzzy biotech, which went public in 2018, has been solely focused on research.

SunSeeker

(51,367 posts)
33. Dr. Fauci is head of Infectious Diseases at NIH, who would be testing the vaccine, so he would know.
Thu Feb 27, 2020, 04:22 AM
Feb 2020

I hope he's wrong and we get the vaccine before the next winter season, but I think Fauci knows what he's talking about.

DeminPennswoods

(15,246 posts)
34. Can you believe anything anyone Trump puts in front of mic
Thu Feb 27, 2020, 04:35 AM
Feb 2020

is true? I also tend to think when a top official answers a question like this, they tend to err on the safe side which here would be the standard timeline. What if this doc said one could be available in few months and it wasn't? Trump's so mercurial, the doc could be out a job in a nanosecond. His response strikes me as "better safe than sorry".

If this is a big a crisis as everyone seems to believe, the usual testing and approval process will be fast-tracked. IIRC, there was just another drug for a type of lymphoma that expedited to market because it was proving successful in trials. That's what will happen with this drug, too, if it proves successful.

 
28. Wow...
Thu Feb 27, 2020, 03:33 AM
Feb 2020
a culling indeed...one has to wonder if the planet herself isn't a bit relieved. The dominant species is out of control.
And now the ghoulish leader of 2/3's of the government of the country which may have been the planet's best chance of an influence to shepherd us out of the mess we've collectively made is as dumb as box of hammers.
Oh me oh my...

progree

(10,864 posts)
30. "everyone should have the right to medication that will help protect them from this virus."
Thu Feb 27, 2020, 03:51 AM
Feb 2020

"them"? "them"?? "them"???

Jesus Fucking Christ, it protects all of us when everyone is vaccinated.

The reason we want to be sure that the poor are vaccinated is not some sort of bleeding heart liberal charitable impulse to help the poor, but rather to be sure that we stomp this thing out so that none of us -- poor or non-poor -- get infected. Google "herd immunity".

The progressive group Center for American Progress tweeted, "This is a global health crisis, and everyone should have the right to medication that will help protect them from this virus."

duforsure

(11,882 posts)
35. He wants to pick who gets medical help or not now, that should scare the hell out of everyone
Thu Feb 27, 2020, 06:06 AM
Feb 2020

Then he'll keep it from cities that don't worship him , or people that he hates will not be able to get treatment because of the color of their skin, or their religion, or their political party, that's dangerous and after having the money to build a racist wall, or give the top 1% huge tax refunds yearly but can't cover all the costs of a vaccine for everyone? Shows how much contempt trump has for the American people, he only cares about himself. Weaponizing treatment by trump is another loser for this country.

ck4829

(34,966 posts)
36. But socialism means rationing and not everyone gets everything they need though
Thu Feb 27, 2020, 08:02 AM
Feb 2020

How could this be happening under a non-socialist system?

CaptYossarian

(6,448 posts)
37. Not surprising. Are the clinics doing a credit check first?
Thu Feb 27, 2020, 08:07 AM
Feb 2020

I thought it would just be delivered to the red states, where the anti-vaxxers are taking up space.

bucolic_frolic

(42,651 posts)
44. Unspeakable and unconscionable
Thu Feb 27, 2020, 09:50 AM
Feb 2020

I always say, Republicans believe in distributing the benefits of society only to those who are able to afford them.

There it is. What a miserable public health message. So give it over to Massachusetts, perhaps the state with the most remaining aspects of a public health system, and allow them to produce it.

Jonas Salk must be turning over in his grave. Public health, for the benefit of people and mankind. Remember?

duforsure

(11,882 posts)
45. But trumps excessive golf trips
Thu Feb 27, 2020, 10:21 AM
Feb 2020

Costing us 100's of millions is ok, and more important then providing everyone a free vaccine against this deadly virus? Trumps an international disgrace, especially after he attacked President Obama's response to the Ebola outbreak, which President Obama handled perfectly, and was very instrumental of it being contained, and trump has done the opposite, and instead again lied to the American people saying it's under control, then appointing pence to be over this.

forthemiddle

(1,373 posts)
49. In reality they won't be available to everyone right away anyway
Thu Feb 27, 2020, 12:00 PM
Feb 2020

This was an incredibly stupid answer, but I think cost will be the least of our worries.

I was part of the planning and coordinating teams for flu shot clinics in the clinic I worked in. A few of those years there was a severe nation wide shortage of shots, so the coordination part was prioritizing who would get the shot.

The first was always healthcare workers, then the elderly and immune compromised. After that it would be people in higher risk categories, such as international travelers, etc. Since almost all of the 1st served were covered by insurance (Medicare, employers for travelers, Medicaid for disabled, etc) payment was never a consideration, and I can’t imagine it will be this time.

The trouble and chaos I foresee will be from the people demanding the vaccination right away even if they don’t fit the higher risk categories. Because there is no way if, and when the vaccine becomes available that there will be the capacity to manufacture enough for the entire population.

Having said all that, the sound bite of him saying he can’t guarantee an affordable vaccine will be a great campaign ad!

Aristus

(66,075 posts)
50. This plays right into the hands of anti-vaxxers who claim that vaccines are a
Thu Feb 27, 2020, 12:49 PM
Feb 2020

Big Pharma scam to make money off 'useless' or even harmful medical treatment.

Of course, anti-vaxxers don't need encouragement to continue fomenting their idiocy, but I'm sure they welcome it anyway...

Response to Tom Yossarian Joad (Original post)

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