GHC Statement on Build Back Better Act

GHC welcomes global health and preparedness funds in the Build Back Better Act, urges policymakers more is needed

Washington, D.C. (October 29, 2021) — Global Health Council welcomes $1.3 billion as part of President Biden’s landmark legislation, the Build Back Better Act, to support public health and preparedness research, development, and countermeasure capacity, including the expansion of global and domestic vaccine production capacity. While this investment is critical to the global fight against COVID-19 and will help to increase the number of vaccines available worldwide, further investment is urgently needed to end the acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic and prepare the world for future pandemics. Robust funding is required not just for the production and procurement of lifesaving COVID-19 vaccine doses, but also for ensuring their delivery to the last mile. It is absolutely essential that this funding be accompanied by a comprehensive global plan to hold world leaders to account on the collective goal of vaccinating 70% of the global population before the UN General Assembly in 2022.  

To end the current pandemic and ensure the world is better prepared for future health emergencies, we must use all the resources at our disposal to bring the COVID-19 pandemic to an end and simultaneously ensure available funding for global health security and pandemic preparedness. Global Health Council is deeply concerned that catalytic funding for the establishment of a Financial Intermediary Fund for global health security is notably absent from this bill following the Biden Administration’s call to action to establish such a fund at the U.S.-led Global COVID-19 Summit in September.

We cannot expect to end this pandemic without U.S. leadership and a strong, coordinated global response. We urge Congress and the administration to swiftly pass this and future legislation that addresses these urgent needs.

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About Global Health Council

Established in 1972, Global Health Council (GHC) is the leading membership organization supporting and connecting advocates, implementers, and stakeholders around global health priorities worldwide. GHC represents the collaborative voice of the community on key issues; we convene stakeholders around key priorities and actively engage with decision-makers to influence global health policy. Learn more at www.globalhealth.org. GHC published A Guide to U.S. Investments in Global Health: Transforming Communities Worldwide, comprehensive consensus recommendations on a variety of global health issues, which are available at www.ghbb.globalhealth.org.

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Media Contact

Rebecca Daedalus, Manager, Operations & Planning
Global Health Council
communications@globalhealth.org