The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) appears unprepared to assume full responsibility for the nation's COVID-19 vaccine program, including activities currently managed by the Pentagon, according to a draft government watchdog report reviewed by Reuters.
and German partner BioNTech SE that have been used to inoculate nearly 200 million Americans, as well as shots that have not been authorized for U.S. use.In May 2021, the Biden administration ordered HHS to begin assuming responsibilities of the program shared with the Department of Defense by the end of 2021, according to the report by Congress’ auditing agency, the Government Accountability Office .
The report found HHS had not ensured "it has sufficient workforce capacity" nor arranged "a schedule to manage the remaining vaccine development, manufacturing and distribution activities," risking a loss of capabilities. in COVID-19 due to the rapidly spreading Omicron variant that is disrupting returns to schools and businesses after the winter holidays."Institutionalizing these functions within HHS ensures we are able to build on the progress to date, retain expertise and skills , and continue providing the necessary tools to the American people to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic," the spokesperson said.
The official, who was not authorized to speak about it and asked to remain anonymous, called Dec. 31, "an aspirational deadline."
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