HHS says more funding is needed to combat COVID-19

Editor's Note

According to the February 16 Becker’s Hospital Review, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xiaver Becerra said the Biden administration is estimating it will need some $30 billion to continue to fight against COVID-19. Another HHS representative told Politico the funding is needed "for additional resources to support securing more lifesaving treatments and vaccines, sustaining testing capacity, and investing in research and development of next-generation vaccines."

The funding would reportedly be broken down as follows:

• $17.9 billion for current COVID-19 treatments and vaccines
• $4.9 billion for further COVID-19 testing
• $3 billion to cover care for uninsured patients
• $3.7 billion to develop new vaccines
• $500 million to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for surveillance and operations.

This announcement comes after the White House warned Congress it does not have sufficient funding to respond to another variant after Omicron.