Rockland County Executive Writes Pfizer About Coronavirus Vaccine
ROCKLAND COUNTY, NY — County Executive Ed Day said Tuesday that he had submitted a letter to Pfizer Chairman and CEO Dr. Albert Bourla asking that Rockland get a guaranteed cut of any vaccine doses that are sold directly to New York.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo wrote Bourla over the weekend asking if New York could buy vaccine directly, since the federal government is allocating fewer than 300,000 doses a week to the state, which has a population of 20 million.
Day argued that some of any doses directed to New York should be reserved for Rockland County, home to a Pfizer vaccine research facility.
"With ten percent of Rockland's residents having tested positive for COVID, along with our holding the second highest death rate in the State, the need is clear," Day said.
Pfizer responded to Cuomo's letter with a statement saying that given the emergency authorization issued by the FDA, the feds would have to approve any such arrangement, according to the New York Post.
Here's the full text of Day's letter.
Albert Bourla, DVM, Ph.D.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Pfizer
235 East 42nd Street
New York, NY 10017
Dear Dr. Bourla,
On behalf of the people of Rockland County, NY, I am writing to follow up on the recent letter sent by the Governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo and your published response. First, I am so proud of the role your team at the Pearl River Research and Development site played in the development of this miraculous vaccine. Thank you for all your company has done to bring this pandemic to an end.
We in Rockland County have an extensive history of supporting Pfizer. Many of your employees are our residents, and their work has been and continues to be a shining light that pushes back against disease and untimely death.
I understand that any agreement for the direct sale of vaccine between Pfizer and the State of New York would require the approval of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. However, I humbly request that any sale of vaccine here in New York include a provision which guarantees the distribution of vaccine directly to Pfizer’s home county of Rockland. This distribution should be based on eligible population; all we are asking is that we receive our fair share.
With ten percent of Rockland's residents having tested positive for COVID, along with our holding the second highest death rate in the State, the need is clear. Thank you for your timely consideration of this request.
Sincerely,
Edwin J. Day
Rockland County Executive
On Friday, Pfizer announced its scientists had reviewed President-elect Joe Biden's coronavirus vaccination plan and believed it would accelerate the nation's ability to beat the pandemic and save lives.
"We are particularly aligned with the ideas of federally assisted vaccination centers, financial support to the States, mobile clinics to reach underserved urban areas and rural communities, vaccine availability in pharmacies and qualified health centers and an expanded public health workforce," the statement said.
The nationwide death toll passed 400,000 Tuesday. "One in every 820 people in our country have died during this pandemic – often alone, typically away from family and friends – comforted only by physicians and nurses in layers of PPE," the American Medical Association noted. "With a more contagious strain of COVID-19 spreading rapidly across the country, the simple steps we’ve advocated for months are more important than ever: wear your mask, practice physical distancing, and wash your hands, to help reduce illness and deaths. Today, vaccine distribution is underway, and there is hope on the horizon. Vaccines are safe, effective, prevent illness and save lives. Protect yourselves and your loved ones by getting the COVID-19 vaccine when it’s your turn."
This article originally appeared on the New City Patch
