Congressman Sires’ Statement on President Biden’s National Pandemic Response

(Washington, D.C.) – Congressman Albio Sires (D-NJ) released the following statement regarding the shortfalls of the Trump administration’s vaccine distribution plan as President Biden’s team begins to address this inherited crisis:

“It is nearly unfathomable that as he left office, ten months into the pandemic, former President Trump’s administration did not have a cohesive, workable vaccination plan to pass on to President Biden and his team. As the United States surpasses 400,000 deaths from COVID-19, and as cases continue to rise across the country, the Trump administration’s lack of leadership and failure to manage the pandemic in a substantive way is unforgivable. President Biden has made implementing a national pandemic strategy, including vaccine distribution, the firstpriority of his administration. Included in his strategy is accelerating vaccinations by strengthening the allocation and distribution process to states, expanding access to frontline workers and high-risk populations, and improving vaccine accessibility by creating more vaccination sites in places like community health centers, pharmacies and retail stores, Veterans Affairs hospitals, stadiums and conference centers, and mobile clinics, in every state and territory.”

“The Biden administration’s national pandemic strategy is a welcome response from the federal government. There are almost no words to describe the needless death our country has suffered over these last ten months and we must not forget this profound loss to our communities. I am grateful for President Biden’s leadership, and look forward to working with him and his team in executing his vaccine distribution plan in the 8th District.”

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