Biden proposes $81.7B for future pandemics

President Biden’s budget proposal released Monday calls for $81.7 billion over five years to prepare for future pandemics, in what would be a major investment in boosting the country’s readiness for future threats.

 

“While combatting the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the United States must catalyze advances in science, technology, and core capabilities to prepare the Nation for the next biological threat and strengthen U.S. and global health security,” the budget states.

 

However, the president’s budget is only a proposal, and any new funding for pandemic preparedness would require congressional approval.

 

Breakdown: The budget calls for $40 billion for the development and manufacturing of vaccines, treatments and tests aimed at future threats.

 

Another $28 billion would go to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for surveillance, lab capacity and the public health workforce.

 

The National Institutes of Health would get $12.1 billion for research on vaccines and other measures, while the Food and Drug Administration would get $1.6 billion for its labs and information technology.