U.S.: COVID-19 Vaccines – Announcements/Regulatory Actions/Deployment

 

 

HHS
News
Statement from HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra on FDA and CDC Expanding Eligibility for Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine Boosters for 5-11 Year Olds
May 19, 2022 | News Release

 

BARDA-ASPR – U.S. Department of HHS [to 21 May 2022]
https://aspr.hhs.gov/newsroom/Pages/NewsRoomHome.aspx
News
HHS commits up t​o $300 million over 10 years to combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria
May 19, 2022
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will commit $20 million this year and has options to provide up to $300 million over the next 10 years to combat antimicrobial resistant (AMR) infections through the Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Biopharmaceutical Accelerator (CARB-X). This public-private partnership is dedicated to accelerating the early development of therapeutics, preventatives and diagnostics for AMR infections…

 

 

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FDA
Press Announcements
May 17, 2022 – Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: FDA Expands Eligibility for Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Dose to Children 5 through 11 Years

Regulatory Actions
Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee– FDA
https://www.fda.gov/advisory-committees/blood-vaccines-and-other-biologics/vaccines-and-related-biological-products-advisory-committee
Calendar
:: On June 7, FDA intends to convene VRBPAC to discuss an EUA request for a COVID-19 vaccine manufactured by Novavax to prevent COVID-19 in individuals 18 years of age and older.
:: On June 8, 21 and 22, the FDA has held dates for the VRBPAC to meet to discuss updates to the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech EUAs for their COVID-19 vaccines to include younger populations. As the sponsors complete their submissions and the FDA reviews that data and information, it will provide additional details on scheduling of the VRBPAC meetings to discuss each EUA request.
:: On June 28, the FDA plans to convene the VRBPAC to discuss whether the SARS-CoV-2 strain composition of COVID-19 vaccines should be modified, and if so, which strain(s) should be selected for Fall 2022. This meeting is a follow-up to the April 6 VRBPAC meeting that discussed general considerations for future COVID-19 vaccine booster doses and the strain composition of COVID-19 vaccines to further meet public health needs.

…Once the meeting dates are finalized, the FDA intends to make background materials available to the public, including the meeting agenda and committee roster, no later than two business days before each meeting…

 

 

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White House [U.S.] [to 21 May 2022]
Briefing Room – Selected Major COVID Announcements
[See announcements associated with the 2nd Global COVID-19 Summit above]
Press Briefing by White House COVID-⁠19 Response Team and Public Health Officials | May 18, 2022
May 18, 2022 • Press Briefings

Fact Sheet: The Biden Administration Announces Americans Can Order Additional Free At-Home, Rapid COVID-⁠19 Tests at COVIDTests.gov
May 17, 2022 • Statements and Releases

 

USAID [to 21 May 2022]
https://www.usaid.gov/news-information/press-releases
Selected Press Releases, Statements, Announcements
USAID Announces $8 Million in Additional Humanitarian Assistance for People Affected by Super Typhoon Rai and Tropical Storm Megi in the Philippines
May 21, 2022
The United States, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is providing an additional $8 million in humanitarian assistance for people experiencing continuing humanitarian needs associated with Super Typhoon Rai and subsequent Tropical Storm Megi in the Philippines. Building on support provided for the initial disaster response, this new funding brings total USAID assistance for typhoon-affected people in the Philippines to more than $29 million since December 2021.

The United States Announces Additional Funding to Respond to Global Food Insecurity
May 18, 2022
At the Global Food Security Call to Action Ministerial Meeting convened by the United States today in New York, Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced nearly $215 million in additional humanitarian assistance to address the global food security crisis, which has been exacerbated by Russia’s war on Ukraine and its corresponding impact on global markets. Even before the war began, approximately 768 million people were chronically hungry. This new crisis has only made an already dire situation significantly worse, with as many as 40 million people projected to be pushed into poverty and food insecurity through the end of the year.