Murray On Pandemic Response: “We Have Come a Long Way, But More Work Lies Ahead”
Murray discussed progress made so far, and emphasized how addressing outbreaks in India and across the world is critical to protecting U.S. families from COVID-19
Senator Murray: “We have come a long way these last few months. But even as we are encouraged by the progress so far, we are all keenly aware that more work lies ahead … People get that when there’s a fire down the street, it is in their best interests to put it out before it gets to their family’s home—not to mention that helping your neighbor is the right thing to do.”
***WATCH SENATOR MURRAY’S OPENING REMARKS HERE***
(Washington, D.C.) – Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, held a hearing focused on reviewing the significant progress made in combatting COVID-19, and what more can be done to address systemic inequities, remove barriers preventing people from getting vaccinated, and end the pandemic.
“We have come a long way these last few months. But even as we are encouraged by the progress so far, we are all keenly aware that more work lies ahead,” Senator Murray said in her opening remarks. “This pandemic has touched every community in our country, and every corner of the world. To truly end it, vaccines have to be just as widespread.”
During her remarks, Senator Murray emphasized the need for action to increase vaccine access for countries that need them, and provide support to places like India, which continue to experience devastating infection and mortality rates. She highlighted that offering aid to global communities is necessary to put an end to the COVID crisis and praised the Biden Administration for sending medical support to India, committing to share excess U.S. doses globally, and considering other steps to remove barriers to vaccines for countries that need them.
“These moves won’t just save lives in India—they will ultimately save lives in Washington state, North Carolina, and across our country. Because, people get that when there’s a fire down the street, it is in their best interests to put it out before it gets to their family’s home—not to mention that helping your neighbor is the right thing to do.”
The hearing included testimony from Dr. Rochelle Walensky, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health; Dr. Peter Marks, Director of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research at the United States Food and Drug Administration; and Dr. David Kessler, Chief Science Officer of the COVID Response at the United States Department of Health and Human Services.
Senator Murray’s opening remarks, as prepared for delivery, are below:
“While we are not through this pandemic yet, it’s clear we are making significant progress. We administered well over 200 million COVID-19 vaccines in President Biden’s first 100 hundred days.
“Over half the adult population has gotten at least one dose and a third of the country is fully vaccinated. Schools, businesses, and communities are working to safely reopen.
“And the Food and Drug Administration has now authorized vaccines for adolescents.
“We have come a long way these last few months. But even as we are encouraged by the progress so far, we are all keenly aware that more work lies ahead.
“This pandemic has touched every community in our country, and every corner of the world. To truly end it, vaccines have to be just as widespread.
“And while some progress is being made, for example, Washington state has released a dashboard with vaccination data, the latest numbers from which show Washington state has vaccinated over 5 million people, and we are vaccinating around 50,000 more a day.
“The data also show vaccinations are lagging in some areas, especially for Black, Latino, Tribal, and rural communities—and not just in my state, but across the country.
“And in some states, we are still lacking key data on demographic characteristics – including race and ethnicity.
“We have to address systemic inequities, and tear down barriers that are making it harder for some people to get vaccines.
“Everyone must have the opportunity to get vaccinated regardless of race, zip code, disability, primary language, or internet access.
“We are also seeing the vaccination rate slow—a reminder that making sure people can get vaccines is just half the battle—we need to make sure they do get them.
“To make that happen, we need to make sure people are getting reliable information about vaccines, and hearing from voices they trust about why getting vaccinated is so important—not just to protect themselves—but to protect those around them and stop this disease from spreading, or mutating into new deadly strains.
“I’m glad the Biden Administration is continuing to release funds from the American Rescue Plan to help address some of these challenges, including last week when they announced almost a billion dollars to strengthen our response in rural communities, and a quarter of a billion dollars to develop and support a community based workforce to help underserved groups get information about vaccines, schedule appointments, arrange transportation, and more.
“And as we work to get our nation vaccinated, we must also acknowledge this is a global fight, and do our part to lead on the world stage.
“The deadly outbreak in India is a heartbreaking reminder of what can happen when this virus spreads unchecked, when it mutates into more contagious, more deadly strains, when it overwhelms health care systems.
“It’s a reminder that this pandemic won’t fully be over for our country, until it is over for the world.
“Which is why I’m glad the Biden Administration is sending medical support to India, sharing some of our excess doses globally, and even considering other steps to remove barriers to vaccines for countries that need them, including a targeted waiver of COVID-19 patent protections.
“These moves won’t just save lives in India—they will ultimately save lives in Washington state, North Carolina, and across our country.
“Because, people get that when there’s a fire down the street, it is in their best interests to put it out before it gets to their family’s home—not to mention that helping your neighbor is the right thing to do.
“I’m also hearing from lots of people in my home state who really feel we can’t simply end this crisis and never look back—we have to learn from it.
“We have to be better prepared for the next public health emergency so that we are never in a situation like this again.
“Which is why Ranking Member Burr and I plan to develop bipartisan legislation to address and build on lessons learned from the COVID-19 response, ensure robust public health and medical capacity to provide services to those most at-risk, improve and secure the supply chain for critical medical supplies, tackle the health disparities that afflict so many of our communities, and strengthen the nation’s public health infrastructure and medical preparedness and response programs at every level.
“I look forward to having more hearings specific to that work soon, and to hearing what our witnesses today have to say on this subject as well.
“As federal officials on the frontlines of this pandemic, you all have an important perspective into the progress we are making today, as well as the lessons we must learn for tomorrow.
“And now I’ll turn it over to the Ranking Member, Senator Burr, for his opening remarks.”
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