Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. Annie Kuster (NH-02), participated in a House Energy and Commerce Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee hearing entitled, "No Time to Lose: Solutions to Increase COVID-19 Vaccinations in the States." The Subcommittee heard from state public health officials from Illinois, Michigan, West Virginia, Louisiana, and Colorado to examine the distribution and administration of COVID-19 vaccines across the United States.

“While it has taken remarkable, unprecedented efforts to get safe, effective COVID-19 vaccines developed, authorized, and distributed around the country, it won’t be enough to curb the spread of the virus if we cannot get vaccines into arms quickly,” said Kuster. “Recent CDC data shows that only about 65 percent of all vaccines distributed around the country have been administered to patients.”

“During today’s hearing, we heard testimony that the vaccine supply is the biggest challenge we face, but the issue of supply does not account for the large gap in doses allocated versus doses administered,” Kuster continued. “With thousands of Americans dying every day, any delay at all in getting these vaccines administered is unacceptable. All states are facing an unprecedented challenge in this historic vaccination effort, and we must find a way to ensure that not a single dose of these vaccines goes to waste. I have already introduced two bills to ensure vaccines are being administered effectively and efficiently and that we are able to mass-produce and administer the vaccines. Through my work on the Energy and Commerce Committee, I am committed to ensuring that our supply and infrastructure meet the demands of this public health crisis.”

Rep. Kuster has pushed for meaningful action to address some of the challenges that experts say are slowing the rollout and administration of COVID-19 vaccines. Kuster introduced bipartisan legislation last week to bolster and quicken our nationwide vaccine rollout. The Immunization Infrastructure Modernization Act would improve and expand real-time communication between state and federal governments, as well as public and private health care providers, to ensure vaccines are being administered effectively and efficiently across all states and territories. Last month, she introduced the Coronavirus Vaccine and Therapeutic Development Act to ensure that the United States will be able to mass-produce and administer COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics quickly and efficiently.

Congresswoman Kuster’s line of questioning can be viewed here, and the entire hearing is available here. Tomorrow, Kuster will participate in a virtual hearing in the Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee entitled, "Road to Recovery: Ramping Up COVID-19 Vaccines, Testing, and Medical Supply Chain.” That hearing will be live-streamed here tomorrow at 11:00 AM.

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