Caucus targets U.S.-spearheaded global vaccination effort

A group of lawmakers launched the COVID-19 Global Vaccination Caucus, which they said would advocate for vaccines as a means of ending the COVID-19 pandemic.

Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Tom Malinowski (D-NJ), Mark Pocan (D-WI) and Jake Auchincloss (D-MA) along with Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) serve as co-chairs. The caucus would advocate for vaccine manufacturing, production and distribution in low middle-income countries. It would seek to increase vaccinations in those nations and block the spread of COVID-19 variants to the United States.

“I am proud that my fellow colleagues have rallied behind this effort to manufacture and distribute vaccines across the globe to end this pandemic and have joined my COVID-19 Global Vaccination Caucus,” Krishnamoorthi said. “At the end of the day, this pandemic is a monumental problem that requires a monumental solution that this caucus can provide. The virus does not know borders, and in order to defeat it, our efforts must be global in scope. The COVID-19 Global Vaccination Caucus is advocating for the necessary immunization of the populations of the world’s poorest countries in order to block dangerous variants from emerging and further harming them and us. COVID anywhere is a threat to everyone everywhere.”

Jayapal said the global pandemic is not over until it is over everywhere.

“It is not only America’s moral responsibility to quickly and equitably unleash the resources necessary to defeat this deadly virus abroad, but doing so will also keep us safe at home,” she said. “I am proud to co-chair the Global COVID-19 Vaccination Caucus as we continue our urgent work to end this crisis and recognize that whether you live in the United States or around the world, your future is intertwined with mine.”