COVID Vaccines ‘Mean Nothing’ If Not Affordable: NJ Congressman

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — If there’s a coronavirus vaccine, it needs to be affordable. Or else, it may all “mean nothing,” a congressman from New Jersey says.

On Thursday, Rep. Donald Payne Jr. of the state’s 10th District said that he’s worried that any future vaccine to treat or cure the COVID-19 global pandemic will be too expensive for low and middle-income Americans.

Payne voiced his concern in a letter to the leaders of three prominent U.S. House committees, pushing for “universal access” to any potential vaccine.

In his letter, Payne wrote that the development of vaccines to protect against COVID-19 is critical to ending the current global pandemic. Yet, it would “mean nothing if vaccines are not widely available, distributed easily and affordable to all,” he added.

“We have seen what this disease can do to our communities of color,” Payne stated. “If we don’t make treatments and cures affordable to all Americans, we run the risk of increased infection rates and deaths nationwide. Every American deserves to feel protected and keep their families safe from this dreaded disease.”

• See related article: Coronavirus Is Exposing Racial Gaps In NJ, Advocates Say

According to Payne, Congress has several tools at its disposal that would ensure universal access to COVID-19 vaccines, such as requiring the federal government to stockpile vaccines as proposed in the HEROES Act.

“Congress must guarantee that everyone will have access to a COVID-19 vaccine,” Payne urged in his letter, which has since gained nine co-signers.

Payne represents the following towns in Essex, Hudson and Union County: Bloomfield, East Orange, Glen Ridge, Irvington, Maplewood, Montclair, Newark, Orange, South Orange, West Orange, Bayonne, Jersey City, Hillside, Linden, Rahway, Roselle, Roselle Park and Union Township.

• See related article: Rep. Donald Payne Has Personal Link To Drug Costs Bill – Diabetes
• See related article: COVID Bailout Is For People, Not Stocks, Rep. Payne Tells United Airlines

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