Kerry will stop the price-gouging that’s putting vaccines out of reach

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Kerry Offers Fresh Start on Health Care in America
http://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/releases/pr_2004_1018e.html

John Kerry’s Plan to Address the Flu Vaccine Crisis
http://www.johnkerry.com/pdf/pr_2004_1018e.pdf

Read the Speech
http://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/speeches/spc_2004_1018.html


Tampa, FL - Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry Monday said we need a fresh start on health care in America, and he outlined his plan to help middle-class families by cutting costs and expanding access to quality care.

Delivering a health care speech in Tampa, FL, Kerry said President Bush has been out of touch with the struggles of the middle class and lacks a plan to help. Included in Kerry’s speech was a full critique of the president’s failure to handle the flu vaccine crisis in America and the Kerry plan to address the problem.

“We can have a fresh start on health care in America, and when I am President, we will,” Kerry said. “When I am President, health care will be the very first proposal I send to the United States Congress. I will work with Republicans and Democrats on this health care plan, and we will pass it. It’s time to help families sitting around the kitchen table, worrying, how will we pay that hospital bill? How did our premiums go up again? Should we drop our coverage and hope nothing happens? But what about the kids? These worries are real, and they’re happening all across America.”

For millions of middle-class families struggling to keep up with their medical bills, finding quality affordable health care has never been harder. Five million people have lost health insurance under George Bush and the cost of a family premium has increased by $3,500. Seniors have seen costs for prescription drugs skyrocket while businesses have struggled under higher costs year after year.

Instead of helping achieve affordable care, George W. Bush has failed to address the issue, like failing to support reimportation, and the plans he has offered for the future would actually raise health care premiums for four out of five small businesses.

As Kerry noted today, Bush has, however, been in touch with and helped the powerful and well-connected. His Medicare bill gave billions to the big drug companies, which along with HMOs and the insurance industry have benefited greatly from Bush’s wrong choices.

“And what does the President of the United States have to say about these out-of-control health care costs that are killing job creation and hurting middle-class families?” Kerry asked. “In the debate the other night, he called these problems ‘a litany of complaints.’ There you have it folks. George Bush’s answer to our health care problems is to tell the American people: stop whining. That’s George Bush, isn’t it?”

Kerry offered up the current flu crisis as a perfect example of the president’s health care failures. For the second year in a row, Americans are facing a critical shortage of flu vaccine, with this year’s crisis the worst ever. Despite warnings, Bush once again failed to plan or take action, leaving millions at risk. His only advice for dealing with the shortage was telling the American people in a debate not to get a flu shot.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, here’s the Bush Health Care Plan: Don’t get a flu shot, don’t import less expensive drugs, don’t negotiate for lower prices, and most of all, don’t get sick,” Kerry said. “And so there’s only one way to avoid another four years of hearing ‘don’t’ from this President when it comes to health care: Don’t vote for George W. Bush.”

As he emphasized in his speech, Kerry has a plan to get health care costs under control, to ensure high-quality care for America’s businesses and families, and as he unveiled today, to address the flu vaccine crisis.

Kerry’s health care plan will cut health care costs, including those for prescription drugs by allowing the federal government to negotiate better prices through Medicare and by permitting Americans to buy safe, FDA-approved drugs from Canada and other countries. It will allow America’s families and small businesses to access the same range of affordable health care plans that members of Congress get today, and also assure every child gets access to health care.

To prevent future flu vaccine shortages, Kerry will crack down on the price-gouging that’s putting vaccines out of reach for people who need them today. He will provide incentives to manufacturers to ensure that we have enough suppliers and enough vaccines to protect the American public. And Kerry will encourage more research to discover more efficient ways to produce better vaccines.

“I believe we need a fresh start on health care in America,” Kerry said. “I believe we need a President who will fight for the great middle-class and those struggling to join it. And with your help, I will be that kind of President.”

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