Free antivirus pills, MORE tests producing ONE BILLION vaccinations a year and $ 5 billion in vaccines overseas: Biden’s plan to end the pandemic, including a stockpile of masks
- The plan focuses on four pillars: protection against infections, preparing for new options, preventing stopping and distributing vaccines abroad.
- It comes a day after the White House lifted its mask requirement following new CDC guidelines
- Last month, the Biden administration requested an additional $ 30 billion for its new Covid plan plus $ 5 billion for vaccines overseas
- The plan also calls on Congress to adopt a paid sick leave program
IN the White House on Wednesday revealed another $ 30 billion Covid-19 a plan that aims to leave the nation ready for future outbreaks so that “Americans are no longer afraid of blocking.”
The new plan focuses on four pillars: protection against current infections, preparing for new options, preventing stopping and distributing vaccines abroad.
This comes one day after the White House abolished its requirement for a mask after the new one CDC guidelines that say those in low- to medium-transmission areas may be left without a mask.
The plan, which will require additional funding from Congress, includes steps to vaccinate children under 5 once FDA approves a measure for them, to increase the production capacity of vaccines to 1 billion per year, to increase the supply of treatments such as antiviral pills and to launch a “test for treatment” program.
The treatment testing program will allow those who believe they have been infected to take a free Covid-19 test at clinics and pharmacies and, if positive, be offered free on-site treatments.
He also called on the United States to spend $ 5 billion to meet its commitment to donate 1.2 billion doses of vaccine to foreign countries. So far, the United States has distributed 475 million doses worldwide.
And in the section on readiness for new options, the plan offers a stockpile of masks in addition to home tests, vaccines and treatments.
The plan also calls on Congress to adopt a paid sick leave program. He called for funding for schools to improve their ventilation systems and provide schools with test kits and other consumables.
It includes a new EPA checklist for improving clean air ventilation in all buildings, said White House coronavirus coordinator Jeff Zients.
Biden’s message on the state of the Union on Tuesday sent a message of hope that it would go beyond Covid-19 safeguards, stressing the importance of keeping children in schools.
Health and Human Services Division Xavier Besera said the United States has so far distributed 690 million doses of vaccines, 4 million treatments, more than 270 million free N95 and free COVID-19 tests to 70 million households.
Zients also said those who have ordered free tests for Covid-19 at home through Covidtests.gov will be able to place another order next week for a second round of testing.
The Biden administration has faced a reaction to the slow launch of free tests at home in the midst of the Omicron variant. Many received their free tests from the government weeks after their community reached the peak of the option.
So far, only half of the available 500 million tests have been ordered.
In addition to funding the development of new antiviral drugs, Besera said a key part of the plan seeks to address the symptoms of “long-term Covid” reported by many across the country.
Efforts to combat new variants will include greater data collection capacity and accelerated review of variant-specific vaccines and treatments.
Biden administration says Americans will be able to order their second round of free Covid-19 tests next week
The Biden administration has asked for $ 5 billion to distribute vaccines abroad
The administration last month asked Congress for $ 30 billion to fight Covid-19 here at home and an additional $ 5 billion to fight the virus abroad through the distribution of vaccines and PPE.
During his address on the state of the Union on Tuesday, Biden sent a message of hope that he would go beyond the precautionary measures against Covid-19, as he stressed the importance of keeping children in schools.
“We can end the closure of schools and businesses. We have the necessary tools. “It’s time for Americans to get back to work and fill our great centers again,” Biden said.
“People working from home can feel safe to start returning to the office. We are doing this here in the federal government. Most federal workers will return to work in person. Our schools are open. Let it stay that way. Our children have to go to school, “he added.
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