A group of U.S. Senators recently called on Congress to provide at least $5.6 billion in federal funding to support the COVID-19 vaccine infrastructure.
The funding — needed to boost the country’s vaccine supply and distribution system — should be included in the next coronavirus relief package, the Senators said.
“We respectfully request at least $5.6 billion in funding to develop and support the critical vaccine infrastructure necessary to ensure that when a COVID-19 vaccine is available, it can be readily deployed across the country, particularly to high-risk populations,” the senators wrote in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY). “Successful and equitable distribution of a safe and effective vaccine is vital to allow our country and our economy to fully recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, to save lives over the long term, and to get Americans back to work safely. However, the public health potential of a vaccine can only be realized by the system that ensures sufficient vaccination rates across the country to protect people from the virus and keep the disease from reemerging.”
Through the Coronavirus Preparedness & Response Supplemental Appropriations Act and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Congress has allocated $6.5 billion in federal funding for the development of vaccines and treatments for COVID-19. While this funding is critical, the senators say the country must also strengthen the ability of states and local governments to boost their infrastructure. This includes vaccine purchase, storage, handling and safety; provider and community education and outreach; immunization information systems (IIS) or registries; disease surveillance; and outbreak response.
“Just as Congress has invested in vaccine development, we must also invest in the deployment of a vaccine against COVID-19,” the senators wrote. “As such, we ask that the next COVID-19 relief legislation include at least $3.6 billion for state and local infrastructure to develop vaccine distribution systems, deploy the vaccine to ensure coverage across every community, track COVID-19 vaccine coverage, monitor the safety of the vaccine, and support a media and education campaign to educate providers, and ensure community outreach. Such funding must be made available as soon as possible to allow states the time to build out this vaccine infrastructure and purchase the supplies needed so that systems are in place and ready to launch as soon as a vaccine is available. We cannot afford to wait until a vaccine is approved to begin this critical work.”
Also, with a second wave possible in the fall and winter, the senators are seeking a dedicated $2 billion allocation over Fiscal Years 2020 and 2021 for flu awareness and education.