Leading senate Democrats on Monday called for members of Congress to set aside $25 billion in emergency funding for production and distribution of a coronavirus vaccine ahead of negotiations on an upcoming response package.
Besides the initial development of the vaccine itself, a massive and complex undertaking is required to manufacture the millions of needed doses, ensure the supply of supporting materials like needles and syringes, and then distribute the vaccine all across the country for people to be vaccinated.
The lead Democrat on the Senate Health Committee, Sen.Patty Murray(Wash.), and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer(D-N.Y.), released a white paper earlier Monday saying the Trump administration needs to do more to plan for this undertaking. They are calling for the $25 billion in funding to be included in the next coronavirus response package, expected to be put together later this month, as well as policy changes.
Murray and Schumer are also calling for a requirement that the administration release a comprehensive plan for “every phase of the vaccine enterprise” by Aug. 7. A similar Democratic push for requiring an administration plan on testing was a sticking point in a previous coronavirus response bill.
READ MORE: TheHill.com