Panel Backs Vaccine Program Delay, Cites Warehouse
The Senate Appropriations Committee approved a proposal Wednesday to delay the start of President Clinton’s immunization program beyond Oct. 1 because of concern over plans for distribution of the vaccine.
Sen. Dale Bumpers (D-Ark.), a leading critic of the Clinton Administration’s plans to begin the $500-million program in the fall, challenged the selection of a single government warehouse in New Jersey to receive and distribute nearly one-third of the nation’s vaccine supply.
Under his amendment the Administration would have to satisfy the Senate and House Appropriations committees that the New Jersey facility would meet federal standards for safe storage and packaging.
In addition, the Bumpers amendment--to a Labor, Health, Human Services and Education money bill--would require the Health and Human Services Department to seek bids from private firms to see if they could provide the same distribution services at a lower cost than the General Services Administration.
Administration officials have vowed to press ahead with the vaccination program on schedule.
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