On Tuesday, the House Energy and Commerce Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, chaired by Representative Diana DeGette (D-CO), held a hearing: “No Time to Lose: Solutions to Increase COVID-19 Vaccinations in The States.” Dr. Ngozi Ezike, Director of the Illinois Department of Public Health; Dr. Joneigh S. Khaldun, Chief Medical Executive and Chief Deputy Director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services; Dr. Clay Marsh, Coronavirus Czar for West Virginia; Dr. Courtney N. Phillips, Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health; and Jill Hunsaker Ryan, Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment all testified before the subcommittee.
The health officials testifying notably voiced similar concerns regarding vaccine rollout and distribution. They noted that inconsistent messaging, as well as the lack of transparency on public health guidelines throughout the pandemic created many hurdles for the protection of the public, as well as the orderly administration of the vaccine. Many of the officials praised Operation Warp Speed for its remarkable and timely development of vaccines within a matter of months, but noted that the federal government fell short in providing a national strategy in 2020.
The health officials requested the federal government to provide a larger and more consistent vaccine supply to states, noting the concern that while vaccinations are speeding up, supply may still fall short of where it needs to be. They also testified that an advanced notice of vaccine supply shipments, in conjunction with a ramp up in production, will be advantageous for distribution and allocation—allowing local officials to prioritize populations based on need and risk. In her opening statement, Jill Hunsaker Ryan of Colorado pointedly noted that the nation’s public health system has been severely underfunded for decades and needs greater assistance from the federal government. Witnesses made additional recommendations to Congress, such as prioritizing vulnerable groups, assisting in overcoming vaccine hesitancy in minority communities, updating the Tiberius database, addressing the lack of diversity in the health care system, and promoting the close collaboration between federal, state, local, and tribal governments.
NACCHO has delivered recommendations to Congress and the Biden administration for how the federal government can strengthen vaccine distribution, including by prioritizing funding specially for local health departments.
