Bernie Sanders wants to make coronavirus vaccine free if elected

Updated: November 18, 2024 - 12:18pm

<p>Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders is using the coronavirus crisis to highlight his Medicare-for-all platform and go after big pharma.</p><p>Speaking at a coronavirus round table in Detroit Monday, Sanders said it was "vulgar" that the president couldn’t guarantee that people would be able to afford a vaccine once one is developed.</p><p>"The Trump administration has suggested, as some of you know, that the vaccine might be be too costly for some to afford. How vulgar, obscene is that idea: that you're rich, you can get the vaccine, you're poor, you can't get the vaccine, you're going to die."</p><p>Last month, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar sparked anger when he told a Congressional hearing that “we can’t control the price because we need the private sector to invest" and refused to guarantee that any coronavirus vaccine or treatment developed with taxpayer money will be affordable for all in the U.S., not just the rich.</p><p>Sanders said, if developed, a vaccine would be available free of charge to all Americans should he be elected president.</p><p>TheVermont senator also scoffed at the idea that Trump has a "natural ability" to handle the health crisis, saying if elected, he would listen to scientists.</p>