Sec. 2. Findings
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The Congress finds the following: Influenza occurs seasonally each year, and throughout history, has caused devastating pandemics. The 1918 influenza pandemic killed an estimated 675,000 Americans. In an average season, influenza results in 6,300 to 52,000 deaths in the United States, including over 100 pediatric deaths. Additionally, influenza causes hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations and millions of illnesses. The Council of Economic Advisors issued a report in 2019 estimating that seasonal influenza costs the United States approximately $361,000,000,000 per year, and that an influenza pandemic has the potential to cause up to $3,790,000,000,000 in losses.
This report was issued prior to the COVID–19 pandemic, which will cost the United States an estimated $16,000,000,000,000. Strategies that increase seasonal influenza vaccination rates will also improve pandemic readiness. The National Influenza Vaccine Modernization Strategy of 2020–2030, established pursuant to Executive Order 13887, titled Modernizing Influenza Vaccines in the United States to Promote National Security and Public Health , should be fully implemented to ensure the Nation’s vaccine enterprise is highly responsive, flexible, scalable, and effective at reducing the impact of seasonal and pandemic influenza viruses.
Critical United States pharmaceutical supply chains are dangerously reliant on China, and the United States must take actions to strengthen its position as the global leader in biotechnology research and development. Vaccine hesitancy in the United States represents a threat to the Nation’s national security and public health. Efforts must be taken to restore trust and confidence in scientific data and public health messaging. Support for communication, outreach, and administration across public health and health care settings is critical to ensure awareness of and access to influenza vaccines, treatments, and medical countermeasures.
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