Ayanna Pressley, 45 Democrats urge President Trump to keep coronavirus vaccine cost low

Feb. 21--U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley and 45 Democratic colleagues demanded in a letter Thursday that President Trump make sure the future coronavirus vaccine will be affordable and accessible.

But public health experts say they're confident the U.S. government will keep the vaccine price low, considering the highly-contagious disease poses a pandemic threat, and one GOP political operative suggested the Democrats are grandstanding on the issue.

Pressley -- along with Massachusetts U.S. Reps. Jim McGovern, Bill Keating and dozens of other lawmakers -- called on Trump to ensure the potential coronavirus vaccine or treatment is inexpensive.

"We write to ask you to ensure that any vaccine or treatment developed with U.S. taxpayer dollars be accessible, available, and affordable," the members of Congress wrote in the letter. "That goal cannot be met if pharmaceutical corporations are given authority to set prices and determine distribution, putting profit-making interests ahead of public health priorities.

"Americans deserve to know that they will benefit from the fruits of their public investments," they wrote. "Specifically, we urge the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) not to provide an exclusive license to any private manufacturer for a coronavirus vaccine or treatment in any government grants, contracts, or licensing arrangements."

Exclusive monopoly rights could result in an expensive vaccine, the members wrote.

Pressley noted that the U.S. Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority recently announced agreements with Johnson & Johnson and Sanofi Pasteur to develop coronavirus vaccines.

"However, the Trump Administration has offered no indication that they will impose guidelines to ensure that these companies cannot monopolize the drugs and price them out of reach," she said in a statement.

There will be a lot of public pressure to keep the vaccine cheap, said Davidson Hamer, a Boston University specialist in infectious diseases.

"I have a moderate degree of confidence it will be a reasonable cost," he said.

Meanwhile, Republican strategist Ford O'Connell said he believes the Pressley and the House Democrats are "trying to stir the pot for political gain" with this effort.

"President Trump is keeping an eye on coronavirus," O'Connell said. "He will do what needs to be done."

An HHS spokeswoman said in a statement, "We have received the letter and will respond."

The federal government must make a future vaccine widely available, said Shannon Brownlee of the Lown Institute and Right Care Alliance, which fights for patients above profits.

"Because coronavirus could become a global pandemic, I don't doubt every effort will be made by the government to make sure a vaccine is widely available and affordable," she said. "The tricky part will be going forward if it continues to be a threat. There are so many vaccines that are not affordable."

Trump has repeatedly called for action to lower drug prices, but his administration "has done nothing about insulin," Brownlee said.

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