January 22, 2021

Yesterday newly elected President Biden announced his plan for battling the Covid -19 virus.

Based on his announcement he would have us believe that he and his administration were left with no plan of action by the Trump Administration.  Of course this is patently false as was confirmed by Anthony Fauci at a White House Press Conference when he said “We’re certainly not starting from scratch, because there is activity going on in the distribution.” 

One only has to go to the CDC website and review the COVID-19 Vaccination Program Operational Guidance that is posted to confirm there was indeed a plan (https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/covid19-vaccination-guidance.html) …one which provides a state by state operational strategy that was coordinated by the federal government with each state. So when Biden says there was no plan what he really means is that it is not his plan.

But is his plan really his plan?

Included in his announced plan was a pledge that among other things he would invoke the Defense Production Act to increase the supply of vaccine. Again, the Biden White House and the general mainstream media would have us believe that this is the first time the Defense Production Act was invoked during this crisis.  In fact, President Donald Trump used his executive authorities under the Act as early as April last year and in multiple other instances throughout the year to, among other things, generate N-95 respirators, ventilators, and boost testing resources, as well as other vital supplies.

An article in today’s New York Times, “Biden Inherits a Vaccine Supply Unlikely to Grow Before April,” further points out that the Trump Administration had already made arrangements and entered into contracts with various pharmaceutical companies to purchase ever increasing amounts of vaccine and that these companies had already ramped up production to maximum capacity.  

As quoted directly from the article, “The Trump Administration had already invoked the Defense Production Act to force suppliers to prioritize orders from Pfizer, Moderna, and other vaccine makers whose products are still in development.” The article goes on to say “Health officials said it was unclear how the new administration could use the law beyond that to boost production.” One should also note that these pharmaceutical companies are making vaccines for the world, not just the United States, and we have no claim on the totality of what they produce beyond the contracts we have entered into with them.

Another heralded initiative in the Biden plan is working to establish relationships and set up arrangements with retail pharmacies to administer vaccines at the local level. In fact, this was already being done.

As noted in Drug News (11/12/2020), an industry newsletter, “several leading pharmacy chains and independent pharmacy networks are working with the Department of Health and Human Services to expand access to future COVID-19 vaccines. The agency, via the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, announced the second phase of its Federal Pharmacy Partnership Strategy for COVID-19.  Pharmacies participating in the federal allocation program are: Albertsons, Costco, CPESN USA, CVS Pharmacy (including Long’s Drugs), Good Neighbor Pharmacy and AmerisourceBergen’s Elevate Provider Network, Health Mart, H-E-B, Hy-Vee, LeaderNet and Medicine Shoppe, Managed Health Care Associates, Meijer, Publix, Good Lion, Giant Food, Giant, Hannaford, Stop & Shop, Rite Aid, Kroger, Publix Super Markets, Topco Associates, Walgreens, Walmart, Winn Dixie, Harveys and Fresco y Mas. The chains involved in the partnership represent roughly 60% of the pharmacies in the 50 states, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, according to HHS.“

So in reality Biden’s plan is just a repackaging and repurposing of all the work done by the previous administration. Some might even say plagiarizing.  But then again that is nothing new for Joe.

If American citizens are to get behind this new administration they at least deserve honesty which is supposedly what had been lacking in the prior administration.  They are not off to a good start.