June 17, 2022
The nation’s public health leaders testified this week before a U.S. Senate committee about the next phases of the pandemic, as well as the infant formula shortage and the need to protect health care workers from burnout.
The panelists before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee included CDC Director Rochelle Walensky, MD, MPH; Anthony Fauci, MD, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health; FDA Commissioner Robert Califf; and Dawn O'Connell, the assistant secretary for preparedness and response.
“While COVID has been anything but predictable, today we are in a much better position to respond than we were a year ago,” O’Connell said.
Here are five takeaways from this week’s hearing:
O'Connell said HHS would provide 60 days’ notice before ending the nation’s public health emergency. She said the declaration unlocks important health care system flexibilities, extends Medicaid coverage, and access to telehealth.
In addition, the public health officials said they are continuing to increase access for Paxlovid for those who are at high risk of severe COVID-19 following infection.
A replay of the hearing is available online.
Tags: Workforce | Public Health | COVID-19
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