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Biden Coronavirus Advisor supports distributing a COVID-19 vaccine globally before it’s available to all Americans

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Dr. Zeke Emanuel, Joe Biden’s coronavirus advisor, wants the U.S. to distribute a COVID-19 vaccination globally before it’s available to all Americans.

Emanuel co-authored a paper in September where he supports following the “Fair Priority Model,” rather than what he and his co-authors called “vaccine nationalism.”

The Fair Priority Model focuses on three principles: benefiting people and limiting harm, prioritizing countries already disadvantaged by poverty or low life expectancy and avoiding discrimination.

The vaccine will be distributed internationally, which means giving away or selling doses of the vaccine before it’s available to every citizen in that country, Emanuel explained to Scientific American.

“Fairly distributing a COVID-19 vaccine among countries is a problem of distributive justice,” states the report co-authored by Emanuel. “Although governments will be the initial recipients of vaccine, fair distribution across countries must reflect a moral concern for the ultimate recipients: individuals. Three values are particularly relevant: benefiting people and limiting harm, prioritizing the disadvantaged, and equal moral concern.”

The model allows the country that produces the vaccine to keep enough of a supply to reach a threshold for herd immunity. After that, the vaccine will be distributed internationally, which means giving away or selling doses of the vaccine before it’s available to every citizen in that country, Emanuel explained to Scientific American.

A government may give ‘some priority to its own citizens, not absolute priority,’ Emanuel and his co-authors wrote.

The Trump Administration had said that the U.S. will share any Coronavirus vaccine it develops with other countries after the needs of the American people are met and that the U.S. will not work with the World Health Organization (WHO) on distribution of the vaccine.

You can follow Annaliese Levy on Twitter @AnnalieseLevy

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Historic House Vote Expels Rep. George Santos Amidst Scandal

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In a turn of events, the House of Representatives made history on Friday with a vote to expel Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.), marking the first such expulsion in over two decades. A moment fraught with gravity unfolded as Speaker Mike Johnson wielded his gavel to formalize Santos’ removal, setting a precedent in congressional annals.

Santos, indicted on 23 counts related to wire fraud, identity theft, and other charges, has not faced conviction but stands accused of misusing campaign funds for opulent purchases. The bipartisan vote, tallying 311 to 114, signaled robust support for expulsion, with a marginally higher number of Republicans opting to retain Santos.

Questions loomed as Speaker Johnson left the chamber, his silence leaving the fate of the ongoing government spending battle uncertain. According to reports from Fox News, Democratic Rep. Steny Hoyer emphasized the non-partisan nature of the decision, asserting that members concluded Santos had tarnished the House’s reputation and was unfit for representation.

Within the GOP, conflicting opinions emerged, with Rep. Darrell Issa arguing against expulsion, citing the presumption of innocence. The tight-lipped stance of the House Ethics Committee played a pivotal role in the deliberations.

Conversely, members of the New York Republican delegation, led by Rep. Marc Molinaro, asserted Santos’ commission of crimes, justifying expulsion based on a comprehensive investigation.

Santos himself predicted the outcome in an exclusive morning interview on “FOX & Friends.” This vote not only underlines the House’s rare use of expulsion powers but also sets a critical precedent in handling members facing severe legal challenges.

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