CNN "Campbell Brown" - Transcript

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I want to bring in right now New Jersey Congressman Frank Pallone. And he is a Democrat. He chairs the subcommittee that oversees the CDC.

And I know, Congressman, you are planning to have hearings on all of this, I think, next week. You just heard Tom Foreman break it down for us. It looks like a mess. What do you think happened here?

REP. FRANK PALLONE (D), NEW JERSEY: Well, there are a number of factors, and I think Tom raised a lot of them.

I think part of the problem was that this was a very slow-growing vaccine. Even though it's actually a very good vaccine that's very effective, it was not anticipated that it was going to be this difficult to grow. And so that was the problem in getting it out there.

And -- and we're now picking up the pace. Another manufacturer was approved today. So, more is getting out. But that was the initial problem. The other thing is, as Tom mentioned, is that since the states distribute it, the distribution has varied.

And it is true, as Tom said, that there are many places that are -- are -- you know, are going without, where other places have too much. So, that's why we're having this hearing in my Health Subcommittee next Wednesday to try to get to the bottom of this and improve the situation.

BROWN: So, do you think that was a mistake in terms of how they planned the distribution? Because we all have anecdotal stories to describe how hard it is or isn't hard to get. I have got a sister in Washington state who has had no trouble in getting it, other family in Louisiana who can't get it at all. It seems like it's varied across the country. PALLONE: Well, the CDC, Centers for Disease Control, did set up guidelines for distribution, but it was still up to the states to decide how to do it.

And I think the federal government's theory was that the states knew best. They probably would be able to figure out how to get the supply out as quickly as possible. But that does create variations. So, one issue would be, you know, does the federal government need to do more to control the distribution than we have?

BROWN: So, on top of all this, I know I don't have to tell you about the story that came out just a short time ago, a few days ago, about Goldman Sachs and some of the other Wall Street banks getting the vaccine. I know that happened here in New York, where certain hospitals in New York and schools are still waiting.

How does something like this happen?

PALLONE: Well, that concerns me a great deal. I mean, essentially what the -- New York did, from what I understand, is, they gave it out to larger employers, who they felt would be better in distributing it.

You know, obviously, a large company like Goldman Sachs has a health clinic. And they have a better distribution system. But the problem is that if you just give it...

BROWN: There are not a lot of kids working at Goldman Sachs.

PALLONE: Exactly. Exactly.

BROWN: There are not a lot of pregnant women there probably either.

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PALLONE: I think that has to be looked at, and certainly one of the things we are going to be looking at, at this hearing next Wednesday, because if you give it to the people that are best at distributing it, like the big firms, well, that means that those who maybe have a greater need don't get it.

BROWN: Absolutely. And full disclosure here, our parent company, Time Warner, also received it ahead of a lot of schools and hospitals here in New York City.

So, we're glad you're looking into this.

Congressman, appreciate your time tonight. Thank you very much.

PALLONE: Thank you.

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