If Republicans Fail to Act, the Consequences Will Be Swift and Dire
Washington, DC – Last week, President Biden released his National COVID-19 Preparedness Plan and sent a request to Congress to provide $22.5 billion in additional funding.
The National COVID-19 Preparedness Plan focuses on tools we now have at our disposal that we didn’t at the beginning of the pandemic, including vaccines, life-saving treatments, and free tests. It also announces a new “Test to Treat” initiative, where people can get tested at a pharmacy and in the event of a positive test, receive anti-viral treatment pills on the spot. It prepares for the possibility of future variants by creating new stockpiles of PPE, masks, tests, and treatment pills, and faster approval processes for vaccines. It reaffirms President Biden’s commitment to keeping schools open, preventing future shutdowns, and continuing to be an arsenal for vaccines for the world.
The funding request is needed to ensure America stays safe. If Congress fails to provide additional funding, the consequences would be catastrophic. People will lose access to tests and treatments, and scientists would go without funding to research new and stronger vaccines.
In response, Protect Our Care Chair Leslie Dach released the following statement:
“In a matter of weeks, our ability to fight against COVID-19 will be severely diminished if Congress fails to approve additional funding. Without it, we risk running out of life-saving treatments, tests, and money for research into new vaccines. By May 2022, the current supply of monoclonal antibodies will be exhausted. By July, we will run out of pre-exposure prophylaxis, leaving immune compromised people without additional protection as restrictions lift and by September, the same will happen with oral antiviral pills.
People will be unable to get tests due to the sharp reduction in testing manufacturing. Claims reimbursements to health care providers for testing, treating, and administering vaccines to uninsured people will start winding down. Research and development of stronger vaccines will not move forward, leaving the country exposed to potential disaster if a new breakthrough variant emerges.
If Republicans fail to act, they will be responsible for the dire repercussions facing the country. Without this funding, people will not have access to the treatments or tests they need and we will be unprepared in the event of a new surge or variant. Republicans must put politics aside and do what’s best for Americans by supporting this new funding. If they don’t, the consequences for the country will be swift and severe.”