Statement from Margarida Jorge, campaign director for Lower Drug Prices Now, on news that CDC panel will prioritize equity in COVID-19 vaccine distribution:

“The Centers for Disease Control’s commitment to make distribution of the COVID vaccine fair, equitable, and transparent is encouraging. We know that this pandemic has disproportionately impacted Black, Latino and Native American communities across the country, and the federal government must ensure that those most affected by the health and economic devastation caused by this virus have affordable access to vaccines and treatments.

But while this initiative from the CDC is a step in the right direction, there is only one way to ensure that COVID vaccines and treatments are made affordable and accessible for everyone: lawmakers in Congress must end Big Pharma’s monopoly control over drug prices. Otherwise, it’s just a matter of time before drug corporations repeat exactly what they’ve done in the past with insulin, EpiPens and HIV drugs — hike prices to maximize their profits over patients’ health as soon as the news cycle moves on to the next crisis.

If we’re going to successfully bring this pandemic to an end, we need the Biden Administration to prioritize passage of the MMAPPP Act to end monopoly control over drug prices, and ensure that every person who needs a COVID vaccine truly has access to one.”