[ad_1]
WASHINGTON – Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar on Monday called threats from New York Governor Andrew Cuomo to block the distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine in the Empire State as “absolutely unacceptable” .
In an interview with Fox News on Monday morning, Azar also said it was Cuomo, and not President Trump, who was in charge of distributing the vaccine in New York City.
“It is simply absolutely unacceptable for anyone to want to delay a vaccine for the American people that is safe and effective just for partisan political reasons,” Azar said after Cuomo earlier Monday called Pfizer a vaccine breakthrough. of “bad news.
“Here’s the really interesting thing, Operation Warp Speed works closely with Governor Cuomo’s Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker and his team, because guess who’s actually in charge of distribution in a state? The governor is, ”Azar continued.
In an interview with “Good Morning America” on Monday, Cuomo called Trump’s vaccination plan “flawed” and went so far as to say, “We cannot let this vaccination plan evolve the way Trump and his administration conceive it. . “
“The bad news is that it takes about two months before Joe Biden takes over, and that means [the Trump] the administration will implement a vaccination plan, ”Cuomo said.
Pfizer announced overnight that its COVID-19 vaccine is over 90% effective in fighting infection, a milestone in the global fight against the pandemic.
But Cuomo has repeatedly threatened to slow the distribution of any vaccine developed under the Trump administration, saying the process was “politicized” and promising to create a review board to recheck any federally approved treatment.
While Pfizer signed Operation Ward Speed, the Trump administration’s plan to speed up delivery of a COVID-19 vaccine, the company took no money from the federal pot to help pay for research and development .
Responding to Cuomo’s latest remarks that Trump’s distribution plan was “flawed,” Azar suggested Cuomo was out of touch with his own health experts.
“His team is doing a really good job of working with us and his team can set up a distribution system and prioritization within their state,” Azar said.
When asked if other governors are trying to stop distribution under this president, the HHS secretary said Cuomo was on his own.
“No, the other governors we work with are enthusiastic and want to be in charge of the distribution,” Azar said.
“Does that include Cuomo?” asked anchor Sandra Smith.
“Well, that includes his staff,” Azar retorted. “He should talk to them and know what their plans are.”
A Cuomo spokesperson did not immediately return a request for comment.
Trump, who shares an acrimonious relationship with the governor, landed on Cuomo in September, calling him “lowlife,” and said the vaccine was developed by “the world’s best labs.”
[ad_2]
Source link