September 15, 2020
The Honorable Roy Blunt
Chair, Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services and Education
U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20510
The Honorable Patty Murray
Ranking Member, Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services and Education
U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20510
The Honorable Rosa DeLauro
Chair, Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services and Education
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
The Honorable Tom Cole
Ranking Member, Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services and Education
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Chairman Blunt, Ranking Member Murray, Chairwoman DeLauro, and Ranking Member Cole:
Governors are on the frontlines helping to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on all Americans. We are continuing to battle the virus, protect public health and when prudent safely open our economies and our schools. However, we are weeks away from a significant threat to our continued progress – the fall flu season.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends everyone 6 months and older get a flu vaccine every year. This is why it is important to make the flu vaccine readily available and promote strong public awareness to help reduce the overall impact of respiratory illnesses and reduce the burden on our hospitals, community health centers, clinics, and health care workers. It will take additional funding and resources from the federal government to help ensure states and territories are ready for flu season, while also dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.
We are concerned flu season will strain our personal protective equipment (PPE) supplies, as our health care workers will need medical grade masks, gowns and gloves to ensure they are protected from COVID-19. In addition, states need to have critical testing supplies to provide adequate and timely tests.
Earlier this year, the CDC reported an almost 50 percent drop in children being vaccinated, compared with the same period in 2019. We will need to launch a strong vaccination mobilization and outreach campaign, and provide resources for our local public health departments that serve rural areas, senior living facilities and those who work with hard to reach communities.
The health and safety of our residents is our number one priority and we urge the Congress to provide additional funding and resources to the CDC that will help ensure states and territories are fully prepared for flu season, while dealing with the current impact of COVID-19 and planning for a potential resurgence in COVID-19 this fall.
Governor Kate Brown
Chair, Health and Human Services Committee
Governor Charlie Baker
Member, Executive Committee
cc: Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations Chair and Ranking Member of the House Committee on Appropriations
