COVID-19 Advocacy & Public Safety Information

BIDEN-HARRIS PRESIDENTIAL TRANSITION

• IDSA and HIVMA Write to Incoming White House COVID-19 Response Coordinators
  IDSA and HIVMA offer to serve as a resource and support their work on a range of issues including strengthening the nation’s vaccination strategy, promoting universal mask use, strengthening testing capacity and optimizing therapeutics and clinical trial infrastructure.
• IDSA and HIVMA Write to Biden COVID-19 Advisory Board Leaders
  The Society congratulated the Biden COVID-19 Advisory Board Co-chairs and offered the members frontline expertise and experience to strengthen the national response to the coronavirus pandemic.
• IDSA and HIVMA letter to President-elect Joe Biden
  IDSA and HIVMA offer their membership’s expertise as President-elect Biden prepares for the transition and takes on the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and other infectious diseases threats.

Vaccines

• IDSA Comments on HHS National Vaccines Strategy
  IDSA provides comment on the HHS Office of Infectious Disease and HIV Policy (OIDP) Vaccines National Strategic Plan 2021-2025.
• IDSA, HIVMA, & PIDS Comment Letter to VRBPAC on COVID-19 Vaccines
  IDSA, HIVMA, and PIDS urge VRBPAC to follow strict criteria and ensure transparent review of COVID-19 vaccine candidates ahead of its Oct. 22 meeting.
• Continued Monitoring of COVID-19 Vaccines, Seasonal Immunization Schedules, and More
  IDSA continues to monitor the activities of CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).
• IDSA leads over 90 organizations on COVID-19 vaccine letter to FDA:
  Organizations representing clinicians, scientists, patients, health care facilities and others urge FDA to ensure that a COVID-19 vaccine is only authorized or licensed when it meets FDA’s existing high standards of safety and efficacy.
• Letter to the National Academy of Medicine’s Committee on Equitable Allocation of Vaccine for the Novel Coronavirus, 9/4/20
  IDSA comments on the recently released discussion draft of the Preliminary Framework for Equitable Allocation of COVID-19 Vaccine.
• IDSA PIDS Letter on Pharmacists Vaccinating Children
  IDSA and PIDS emphasize the importance of increasing vaccination rates and comprehensive pediatric care.
• Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices Meeting Summary
  CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) discussed several COVID-19 vaccine candidates undergoing clinical study at its latest meeting
• Letter Urging Inclusion of People Living With HIV in COVID-19 Vaccine Trials, 7/29/20
  IDSA and HIVMA writes to HHS Operation Warp Speed leadership on including PLWH and medically underserved communities in vaccine trials.
• Recommendations for Increasing Vaccination Rates in Children and Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic
  IDSA, HIVMA, SHEA & PIDS recommend policies to increase immunization rates.

ID Workforce

• Telehealth Stakeholder Letter to Congress, 6/29/20
  IDSA joins over 300 organizations urging Congress to make current telehealth flexibilities permanent.
• Where is the ID in COVID-19?
  A study published in Clinical Infectious Diseases that found that 80% of counties with highest number of COVID-19 cases at the time of the study had below average ID physicians or no ID physicians at all.
• Strengthening the Infectious Diseases Workforce to Combat COVID-19 and Future Pandemics
  IDSA policy brief on ID workforce challenges and policy recommendations to address them.
• Letter on Loan Forgiveness for Frontline Health Workers Act, 5/12/20
  IDSA and HIVMA letter endorsing legislation to provide loan forgiveness for ID/HIV physicians and other frontline health care professionals.
• IDSA and HIVMA Letter to Department of State, 4/16/20
  Letter urging Department of State and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to ensure foreign-born international medical graduates are able to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Outbreak Activation Reimbursement for Providers on the Frontlines of the COVID-19 Response
  IDSA’s request to Congress for a Medicare coding pathway for outbreak activation activities.

Therapeutics

• Testimony Submitted for the Senate HSGAC “Early Outpatient Treatment: An Essential Part of a COVID-19 Solution, Part II” Hearing
  Joint IDSA and HIVMA comments regarding expanding COVID-19 outpatient treatments and the need to strengthen the FDA’s EUA process, optimize clinical trial infrastructure and improve the allocation and distribution process of EUA products.

Funding/Congressional Response Legislation

• FY21 COVID-19 Bill Itemized 
• Urgent Action Needed Before the End of the Year on COVID-19 Relief Package
  IDSA, HIVMA and the George Counts Interest Group urge Congress to pass COVID-19 response legislation before the end of the year, including much needed resources for widespread, equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines.
• Priorities for Next COVID-19 Response Legislation, 7/24/20
  IDSA and HIVMA outline key issues for the next Congressional COVID-19 response bill.
• Priorities for Next COVID-19 Response Bill, 7/13/20
  IDSA and HIVMA list priorities for Congress as it develops CARES Act follow-up legislation.

Public Health

• Innovations in HIV Care Delivery During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Policies to Strengthen the Ending the Epidemic Initiative
  A policy paper of IDSA and HIVMA.
• Letter to the Biden Presidential Campaign on Addressing COVID-19, 8/13/20
  IDSA and HIVMA offer information, resources and evidence-based advice on confronting the pandemic and protecting public health.
• Letter to the Trump Presidential Campaign on Addressing COVID-19, 8/13/20
  IDSA and HIVMA offer information, resources and evidence-based advice on confronting the pandemic and protecting public health.
• Letter Urging Administration to Reverse Course on COVID-19 Patient Data Reporting Change, 7/17/20
  More than 100 organizations urge the Administration to protect data integrity, keep public health data public and invest in CDC data reporting.
• IDSA Comments on White House Blueprint for Testing & Rapid Response, 5/8/20 
  Letter offering evidence-based key considerations. 

Health Disparities

• COVID-19 and Health Disparities: The Impact on Rural Communities
  Recommendations for addressing disparities among rural communities.
• COVID-19 Policy Brief: Disparities Among Immigrant Populations in the United States
  This policy brief focuses on health and immigration policies that put immigrant populations—especially undocumented immigrants—at significant risk of contracting COVID-19 and experiencing adverse health outcomes due to COVID-19.
• COVID-19 and Health Disparities in the United States
  Issue brief from IDSA and HIVMA with policy recommendations.
• COVID-19 and Health Disparities: The Impact on Native American Communities
  Recommendations for addressing disparities among Native American communities.
• COVID-19 and Health Disparities: The Impact on Black/African American Communities
  Recommendations for addressing disparities among Black/African American communities.
• COVID-19 and Health Disparities: The Impact on Latinx Communities
  Recommendations for addressing disparities among Latinx communities.
• Strengthening the Response to COVID-19 in Correctional Facilities
  IDSA and HIVMA recommendations for preventing and responding to outbreaks in correctional facilities. 
• Letter of Support for the Minority Community Public Health Emergency Response Act, 8/13/20
  IDSA and HIVMA support H.R.7456, which would provide resources to communities with high percentages of people of color impacted by COVID-19.
• Group Letter Urging Action on PPE, Testing & Supplies to Protect Vulnerable Populations, 7/23/20
  IDSA, HIVMA, and other organizations convened by the National Medical Association and the Rainbow PUSH Coalition urge federal action on PPE, COVID-19 testing and supplies.

Diagnostics

• Letter to HHS re 8/20/20 rescission of LDT guidances
  IDSA offers questions and recommendations to HHS following their announcement to rescind existing FDA premarket review requirements for laboratory developed tests.

Public Safety

• What the Experts Say About COVID-19 Risks
  IDSA-developed infographic categorizing the risk level of common activities.
• Guidelines for Healthy In-Person Voting
  Guidelines developed jointly by IDSA and Brennan Center for Justice for minimizing the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission at polling locations.
• Letter Urging Governors to Implement State Mask Requirements, 8/10/20
  IDSA and HIVMA emphasize to the National Governors Association the importance of state mask requirements to prevent transmission of COVID-19.
• Letter to White House Coronavirus Task Force on Mask Requirements, 8/5/20
  IDSA and HIVMA advocate policy options to significantly increase mask use nationwide.
• How to Stay Safe During Re-opening
  Infographic developed by IDSA for the general public.
• Reopening Safely: Help Stop the Spread of COVID-19
  Public health best practices and resources compiled by IDSA and HIVMA.
• Face Coverings and Masks: Advice and Information for the General Public
  Printable one-page document created by IDSA and HIVMA.

Pandemic Preparedness

• Letter to HHS on Health System Resilience, 7/8/20
  IDSA and HIVMA recommendations related to the ID/HIV workforce, PPE, testing capacity, masks and physical distancing, health disparities, contact tracing, research, and immunizations.
• IDSA and HIVMA Response to Senate Health Committee “Preparing for the Next Pandemic” White Paper
  Recommendations to inform the development of pandemic preparedness legislation.
• Initial Lessons Learned: Recommendations to Prepare for a Fall Surge of COVID-19 Cases
  Preparedness policy recommendations from IDSA, HIVMA, and SHEA
• IDSA Comments on CURES 2.0 Concept Paper and COVID-19, 5/6/20 
  Letter to Hill leaders offering feedback on policy proposals relevant to pandemic preparedness and response.  

Patient Care

• Letter to Vice President Pence and Sec Azar on Access to Remdesivir, 7/14/20
  IDSA and HIVMA urge the administration to use every authority it has to ensure an adequate supply of remdesivir in the U.S. and worldwide.
• Letter Asking Ambassador Birx for Remdesivir Distribution Discussion, 5/14/20
  IDSA and HIVMA letter requesting a meeting with White House Coronavirus Task Force Coordinator on continuing uncertainty surrounding access.
• Ensuring Fair and Equitable Distribution of Remdesivir, 5/6/20 
  IDSA and HIVMA letter to the White House Coronavirus Task Force. IDSA and HIVMA Letter to Congress on Medical Supply Chain, 4/23/20
  Letter in support of H.R. 6390, a bill to require emergency production of medical equipment.

Antimicrobial Resistance

• Letter to Congress on Addressing Antimicrobial Resistance in COVID-19 Response, 8/5/20
  Joint letter urging Congress to address antimicrobial resistance in forthcoming COVID-19 legislation.
• IDSA-led Stakeholder Letter on AMR and Preparedness 
  Stakeholders highlight the need to address AMR as part of broader preparedness efforts.
• Strategies to Address Antimicrobial Drug Shortages, 6/1/20
  Issue brief on current antimicrobial drug shortages and potential policy interventions. 

Global Health

• Infectious Diseases Leaders Respond to President Trump’s Defunding of the World Health Organization, 4/15/20
  A joint statement from IDSA, HIVMA, SHEA, PIDS, and SIDP.
• Recommendations for U.S. Efforts to Strengthen Global Vaccination Coverage During the COVID-19 Pandemic
  IDSA and HIVMA recommend policies to strengthen global immunization infrastructure.

Research

• Letter of Concern Regarding EcoHealth Alliance Grant Termination, 5/11/20
  IDSA, HIVMA, PIDS and the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene express concern about a coronavirus-focused NIH grant’s termination.
• IDSA Outlines Key COVID-19 Research Questions and Recommendations 
  Research recommendations to drive the advancement of evidence-based prevention, diagnostics, and treatment. 

• IDSA Comments on NIH-Wide Strategic Plan for COVID-19 Research 
  IDSA identifies key COVID-19 research questions and priorities for NIH consideration