Lawmakers urge domestic lead on global immunizations

U.S. Sens. Brian Schatz (D-HI), John Thune (R-SD), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and Ben Sasse (R-NE) forwarded correspondence last week to President Joe Biden encouraging the United States to take the global lead regarding COVID-19 vaccinations and pandemic combating efforts.

“We urge you in the strongest possible terms to do more to lead global efforts to end this pandemic and increase global vaccine access,” the senators said. “We also encourage you to place a stronger focus on development of and access to COVID-19 diagnostics and treatments and strengthening health systems worldwide. We were encouraged by the recent steps that the United States has taken to increase global vaccine access, including the recent convening of the Global COVID-19 Summit and the commitment to achieving 70 percent global vaccination by September next year.”

The lawmakers maintain more domestic leadership, urgency, and accountability is key to effective global pandemic response.

“We also encourage you to consider designating somebody in the White House to coordinate global COVID-19 response efforts,” the senators concluded. “White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator Jeff Zients has helped to coordinate efforts to respond to the virus domestically, and your efforts to expand access to vaccines abroad would be well served by having a separate global COVID-19 point person in the White House.”

The legislators conveyed they welcome the opportunity to discuss the need to accelerate the Administration’s efforts to address COVID-19 globally.