Sanders targets drug companies over COVID-19 vaccine price hikes, high prescription costs

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On Sunday, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders took aim at pharmaceutical companies over upcoming price hikes for COVID-19 vaccines and high prescription drug prices, telling 'Face the Nation' that he believes there is room for bipartisanship to bring down costs.

it would develop a program to ensure that uninsured and underinsured people can receive the vaccines at no cost. The vaccines will also remain free to those with insurance, as required by the Affordable Care Act. Pfizer and BioNTech have also confirmed their plans to hike vaccine prices to at least $110 per dose, which is more than triple the cost per shot that the Biden administration paid for a bulk purchase of COVID-19 boosters in the summer of 2022.

The senator, whose upcoming book"It's OK to Be Angry about Capitalism" examines the growing divide between the wealthy and the working class, noted that"one out of four people in American cannot afford ... the drugs that their doctors prescribe," while roughly two-thirds are living paycheck to paycheck. Sanders additionally pointed to stark disparities in cost for the same medications in countries with public health systems, like Canada, compared with the U.S.

"So of course, we want the drug companies to do the research and development," he continued."By the way, taxpayers of this country spent $45 billion a year through the NIH to help with that research and development, including Moderna and the vaccine." He cited polling of Republicans that showed high prescription drug costs were"a major priority they were concerned with," and said he believes laws like the Inflation Reduction Act, as well as legislative proposals, can form"the basis for bipartisan work." The, which President Biden signed into law in August of last year, reformed how Medicare sets drug prices.

 

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Nothing about the up tik in vaccine related injuries?

Margaret Brennan was a perfect journalist. She deflected, directed, did NOT answer questions but just parroted her talking point, is intentionally obtuse and focused on nothing but getting a headline. Then like a 4 year old, said, 'I ask what I want.' That part made me laugh.

Who is still getting the vaxx🙄

He's been in Congress for how long? And what has he accomplished in all this time? Nothing! All talk, no action.

Pointless

Excellent interview!

That combo of.... 😐

Jesus Christ just look at all the bots in the comment section

Such hypocrites when it comes to big pharma …. Seriously ridiculous

The interviewer is a Corporate shill, but Bernie was, as usual, FANTASTIC!

Booster uptake drops, prices go up... What a shock, big Pharma are balancing the books. Their entire business model is based on this.

He’s a hypocrite

TERM LIMITS!

Yeah, if any industry receives govt aid for R&D or subsidies, it should be illegal to price gouge. Companies either chose a pure capitalized model, gaining success 100% on their own or take the govt. handout and suffer less profit as a result...

Watch it Bernie, big pharma will have an 'extra special' shot for you.

I have an idea about Rx. Why don't big Pharmas moderately increase the prices of relatively inexpensive drugs that are widely used and prescribed often to allow significant price reductions in ultra-expensive, rarely prescribed drugs?

Phony Commie

when is this commie going to give up 3 of those 4 home he owns too

Nah. Don’t need the experimental shots anymore.

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