U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Announces 22 Billion Dollars in Funding to Support Expanded Testing, Vaccination Distribution

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Announces $22 Billion in Funding to Support Expanded Testing, Vaccination Distribution | site |


(Information contained in U.S. Department of Health and Human Services press release: January 6, 2021)

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today announced two upcoming actions by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to provide more than $22 billion in funding to states, localities, and territories in support of the nation's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, as directed by the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act.

Funding will provide critical support for testing and vaccination-related activities to jurisdictions before January 19, 2021:

• More than $19 billion will be allocated to jurisdictions through the existing CDC Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity (ELC) cooperative agreement. These awards will support testing, contract tracing, surveillance,

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UPS Continues Support Of COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution | site |


UPS Partners with McKesson to Transport and Deliver the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine


(Information contained in UPS press release dated: December 18, 2020) Atlanta, GA - - UPS (NYSE:UPS) continues its involvement with COVID-19 vaccine delivery efforts through a partnership with global pharmaceutical and medical supply distributor McKesson. Through contracts with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response to support Operation Warp Speed, McKesson is the centralized distributor for non-ultra-frozen COVID-19 vaccines and ancillary supply kits. Under its agreement with McKesson, UPS will begin delivering Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine, which today received a U.S. Food and Drug Administration Emergency Use Authorization. “This is a critically important initiative for UPS, and we are committed to delivering what matters for as lon...

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs releases COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Plan, Vaccinations began this Week| site |



(Information contained in U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs press release: December 15, 2020)

Washington - - The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced today publication of its dynamic VA COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Plan, being executed at 37 sites across the country.

VA began vaccinating Veterans and frontline employees this week, following the Food and Drug Administration’s Dec. 11 decision to issue an Emergency Use Authorization for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine. The distribution plan addresses vaccinations for Veterans, staff and other federal partners including a prioritization framework for identifying the population(s) at highest risk to receive the vaccine. The plan will be updated over the next two weeks to reflect final recommendations and specifications from FDA an...

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announces Initial Plans for COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution | site |



(Information contained in U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs press release: December 10, 2020) Washington - - The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) today announced a preliminary plan for distributing COVID-19 vaccinations it will implement once the Food and Drug Administration issues an emergency use authorization for a vaccine. VA has worked in close coordination with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Operation Warp Speed to plan for COVID-19 vaccination of VA staff and Veterans. VA will first provide vaccinations to front-line VA health care workers and Veterans residing in long-term care units in 37 of its medical centers across the country. The centers, listed below, were chosen for their ability to vaccinate large numbers of people and store the vaccines at extremely cold temperatures. Health care workers will be...

UPS To Support Distribution Of Approved Vaccine As Part Of Operation Warp Speed | site |


Deployments began after federal mandate to distribute vaccine within 24 hours of emergency use authorization.

UPS to help transport the initial Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine doses to support vaccinations of healthcare workers.


(Information contained in UPS press release: December 12, 2020)

Atlanta, GA - - UPS (NYSE:UPS) today announced its involvement and full support of distribution efforts for Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine as part of Operation Warp Speed. Pfizer’s and BioNTech’s vaccine, approved through a U.S. Food and Drug Administration emergency use authorization (EUA), is the first to be deployed in a months-long global race to develop safe vaccines to combat the spread of the COVID-19 virus. “Vaccine distribution is a key part of moving our world forward by delivering what matters,” says Carol Tomé...

Trump Administration Announces New Half Billion Incentive Payment Distribution to Nursing Homes | site |



(Information contained in U.S. Department of Health and Human Services [HHS] press release: December 7, 2020) Today, the Trump Administration, through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) operating under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is announcing it will distribute $523 million in second round performance payments to over 9,000 nursing homes. These nursing homes are being rewarded for successfully reducing COVID-19 related infections and deaths between September and October. "As we approach the rollout of safe and effective vaccines for our most vulnerable, we continue the innovative program we created this year to incentivize and assist nursing homes in battling COVID-19 and applying the right infection control practices," said HHS Secretary Alex Azar. "This half a billion dollars in incentive payments w...

Veterans Affairs, Federal Partners plan for COVID-19 Vaccination Distribution | site |


(November 17, 2020) - - On November 17, 2020 the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs published the following information: Washington - - The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced today it is working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other federal partners to develop a comprehensive COVID-19 vaccine plan to ensure VA safely and equitably distributes vaccines once authorized. The plan will be a phased approach based on scientific and historical evidence, lessons learned from past pandemic vaccine plans and input from scientific experts both within and outside VA. “In October, staff at VA medical facilities conducted important planning exercises in preparation for the vaccine,” said VA Secretary Robert Wilkie. “These exercises help us to address vaccine distribution, allocation, safety monitoring and supply tracking.” COVID-19 v...

Readout from the Trump Administration’s 40th Governors Briefing on COVID-19 Response and Vaccine Distribution Best Practices | site |



(October 30, 2020) - - On October 30, 2020, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services published the following information:

Today, U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar led a discussion with the chief executives and senior leaders of approximately 50 states, territories, and the city of Washington, D.C., and the White House Coronavirus Task Force on local, state, and federal COVID-19 response and recovery efforts and continued collaboration on vaccine distribution and administration planning. Earlier today, HHS responded to our nation’s governors thoughtful technical questions on vaccine planning and distribution effort, which can be found here*. Ambassador Birx provided an update on data and trends from across the nation, and discussed her recent visits to states in the upper Midwest and...

National Transportation Safety Board says Overpressurized Gas Distribution System Caused Explosions, Fires| site |



(September 24, 2019) - - Today, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) published the following information: WASHINGTON (Sept. 24, 2019) — The National Transportation Safety Board determined Tuesday that Columbia Gas of Massachusetts’ deficiencies in management and oversight led to overpressurization of a natural gas distribution system which resulted in a series of fires and explosions in Merrimack Valley, Massachusetts. The Sept. 13, 2018, accident occurred after high-pressure natural gas was released into a low-pressure gas distribution system in the northeast region of the Merrimack Valley. One person was killed and 22 people, including three firefighters, were transported to area hospitals. The system over-pressure damaged 131 structures, including five homes that were destroyed. Prior to the overpressurization event a Colu...

U.S. Department of Justice Announces $35 Million to Battle the Distribution of Methamphetamine and Another $35 Million to Assist Children Impacted by the Opioid Crisis

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(October 25, 2018) - - Attorney General Jeff Sessions today announced $35 million in funding to support law enforcement agencies in combating the illegal manufacturing and distribution of methamphetamine, heroin, and prescription opioids, and another $35 million to establish new programs to provide services to children victims of the opioid crisis. The announcement was made at the Department’s National Opioid Summit, which coincides with Red Ribbon Week, a yearly October event encouraging students, parents, schools, and communities to promote drug-free lifestyles. Additionally, the upcoming Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on October 27 provides an opportunity for America...