Press Releases
Pascrell, Schneider Lead Colleagues in Demanding Urgent Vaccine Supply and Distribution AnswersWays and Means members request documents on remaining logistical hurdles
Washington, DC,
December 21, 2020
U.S. Reps. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09), the Chairman of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Oversight, and Brad Schneider (D-IL-10) have led 14 of the their colleagues in a letter to U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar demanding urgent answers to questions on the nation’s deployment of COVID-19 vaccines, as well as supply transparency. The letter follows reporting last week that state vaccine allotments would be cut nationwide, including by as much as 20% in New Jersey. “Public confidence in a vaccine is of the utmost importance right now, but the administration is not providing sufficiently clear communication with the public, state and local governments, the incoming administration, or Congress,” the members write Azar. “The administration’s lack of support for state and local health departments will undoubtedly slow the rate of vaccination and make it difficult to vaccinate vulnerable and hard to reach populations. The letter is signed by Reps. Pascrell, Schneider, Don Beyer (D-VA-08), John Larson (D-CT-01), Brendan Boyle (D-PA-02), Suzan DelBene (D-WA-01), Danny Davis (D-IL-07), Judy Chu (D-CA-27), Brian Higgins (D-NY-26), Tom Suozzi (D-NY-03), Terri Sewell (D-AL-07), Dan Kildee (D-MI-05), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA-20), Steven Horsford (D-NV-04), Linda Sánchez (D-CA-38), and Ron Kind (D-WI-03). The text of the letter is provided below:
December 18, 2020 Dear Secretary Azar,
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to ravage our nation, we write seeking information associated with the supply chain and planned distribution of vaccines. We are pleased that two vaccines are now being, or about to be distributed throughout the country, and several vaccine candidates are in advanced clinical trials and the data released publicly thus far suggests a high level of efficacy. While the speed at which these vaccines were studied and developed is unprecedented, we remain concerned regarding supply chain constraints.[i] We are also troubled by the lack of transparency exhibited by this administration with respect to the planning for nationwide vaccine distribution, which we fear will result in unnecessary problems and delays. In November, a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report detailed challenges scaling up production of COVID-19 vaccines, including limited manufacturing capacity, potential disruptions to manufacturing supply chains, and gaps in available workforce.[ii] However, the administration did not agree nor disagree with GAO’s findings, nor has it expressed any concern to Congress for proper oversight or potential assistance in this area. Public confidence in a vaccine is of the utmost importance right now, but the administration is not providing sufficiently clear communication with the public, state and local governments, the incoming administration, or Congress. Evidence is clear that without Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions (NPIs), such as wearing a mask, frequent hand washing, and social distancing, even a vaccine that is 90 percent effective will be ineffective at fully stopping viral spread.[iii] Coupled with the administration’s decision not to aggressively communicate the need for NPIs along with clear vaccine information, we are concerned regarding the administration providing insufficient support for state and local governments.[iv] The administration’s lack of support for state and local health departments will undoubtedly slow the rate of vaccination and make it difficult to vaccinate vulnerable and hard to reach populations. In a recent report regarding vaccine distribution challenges, twelve states said that they still await further information from the CDC and other federal partners on various aspects of distribution strategy. Seven states raised concerns about funding and resources that the federal government will contribute to state vaccination efforts. Other challenges states mentioned include limited state and local resource and workforce capacity, logistical issues associated with vaccine distribution and storage, a lack of public confidence in vaccine efficacy and safety, and uncertainty about how to reach all target populations.[v] Despite these well-known obstacles, states have started reporting incoming vaccine allocations will be half of expected totals, while manufacturers report ready-to-ship vaccine stockpiles sit in warehouses without adequate distribution instructions and coordination.[vi] As well, press reports indicate that the administration has failed to share adequate information with President-elect Biden’s transition team on vaccine production and distribution.[vii] Anything but an entirely smooth and cohesive transition will undoubtedly result in unnecessary delays. Additionally, reporting has identified that the Trump administration had the option to purchase additional doses of one vaccine last summer but declined.[viii] The United States has reserved roughly 800 million doses from six manufacturers including an initial 100 million each from Pfizer and Moderna, whose manufacturing capacities are already stretched thin due to agreements to provide the vaccine globally.[ix] OWS has remained incredibly opaque regarding its projections for how fast it can fully vaccinate the public and which manufacturers those projections depend on. Without transparency for Congress, the states, and President-Elect Biden’s transition staff, the American people are left in the dark regarding vaccine safety and access. Please answer the following questions by January 1, 2020:
We remain concerned regarding the lack of transparency from the administration during this process. It is vital that a mass vaccination campaign provide clear metrics for its timeline, be transparent about potential delays, and give clear and concise direction and communication to the American people if it expects to be successful. We look forward to your response by January 1, 2020.
[i] Supply-Chain Obstacles Led to Last Month’s Cut to Pfizer’s Covid-19 Vaccine-Rollout Target: https://www.wsj.com/articles/pfizer-slashed-its-covid-19-vaccine-rollout-target-after-facing-supply-chain-obstacles-11607027787?reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink [ii] Federal Efforts Accelerate Vaccine and Therapeutic Development, but More Transparency Needed on Emergency Use Authorizations: https://www.gao.gov/assets/720/710691.pdf [iii] Clinical Outcomes Of A COVID-19 Vaccine: Implementation Over Efficacy: https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/full/10.1377/hlthaff.2020.02054 [iv] Missing From State Plans to Distribute the Coronavirus Vaccine: Money to Do It: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/14/health/covid-vaccine-distribution-plans.html [v] Supporting an Equitable Distribution of Covid-19 Vaccines: https://www.nga.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Supporting-an-Equitable-Distribution-of-COVID-19-Vaccine.pdf [vi] Pfizer Says No Vaccine Shipments Have Been Delayed: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-12-17/pfizer-says-no-vaccine-shipments-have-been-delayed [vii] Operation Warp Speed Head Says He’s Been Instructed Not To Share Vaccine Information With Biden Team: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jemimamcevoy/2020/11/22/operation-warp-speed-head-says-hes-been-instructed-not-to-share-vaccine-information-with-biden-team/?sh=58c6f0733d33 [viii] Trump administration officials passed when Pfizer offered months ago to sell the U.S. more vaccine doses: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/07/us/trump-covid-vaccine-pfizer.html [ix] Supply-Chain Obstacles Led to Last Month’s Cut to Pfizer’s Covid-19 Vaccine-Rollout Target: https://www.wsj.com/articles/pfizer-slashed-its-covid-19-vaccine-rollout-target-after-facing-supply-chain-obstacles-11607027787?reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink |