Murphy, Bipartisan Group of Senate Colleagues Urge Biden Administration to Help Develop Next Generation COVID-19 Vaccines

Press Release

U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, joined U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Mitt Romney (R-Utah), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) in a letter urging Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response Dawn O'Connell to outline the Biden Administration's plans to support the development of next generation COVID-19 vaccines. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, vaccinated people are far less likely to be hospitalized or die from COVID-related illnesses, but breakthrough cases are still possible. In their letter, the senators push the Biden administration to support the development of vaccines that provide even more durable protection against COVID-19, particularly with the emergence of new variants.

"We appreciate your open and thoughtful comments on the Administration's efforts to end the pandemic and the critical role the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) serves in developing next generation COVID-19 vaccines that are easier to store, ship, and administer and that may prove more durable than the current authorized and approved vaccines," said the senators. "We request a briefing to better understand the Administration's plans to support development of next generation COVID-19 vaccines."

Next generation COVID-19 vaccines may be universal, offering broad protect against changing variants of the virus, or help reduce the need for follow up booster shots.

Source