WASHINGTON – U.S.
Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) are calling on the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to publicly release its weekly
formula for allocating vaccines to states and other jurisdictions. The push for
greater transparency comes as news reports suggest Iowa is lagging behind other
states in vaccines delivered and
CDC
data
currently available does not provide transparency into state’s vaccine allocation
formula.
“Iowans
must have confidence we are receiving our fair share of vaccines. I appreciate
the CDC routinely releasing state-by-state vaccine data for allocation, doses
delivered, and administration. However, it is difficult to determine based on
this data whether Iowa is receiving its fair share,” the senators wrote in a letter to the CDC director.
“If
the CDC publishes the week-to-week formula and key details, this transparency
will ensure Iowans and all Americans can confirm the federal government is
fairly allocating vaccines and build confidence in the vaccine distribution
process.”
February
8, 2021
The
Honorable Rochelle P. Walensky, MD, MPH
Director
Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention
1600
Clifton Road
Atlanta,
GA 30329
Dear
Director Walensky,
We
appreciate the Biden administration’s whole-of-government approach to deliver a
safe and effective vaccine to the American people. This builds on the good work
of the Trump administration’s Operation Warp Speed.
There
are recent reports that Iowa is not receiving its fair share of vaccines.
[1]
We request the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) publicly
release its weekly formula for allocating vaccines to states, territories,
tribes, other public health jurisdictions, and federal entities. No matter
where you live, Iowans and all Americans should have fair access to a vaccine.
Iowans
must have confidence we are receiving our fair share of vaccines. We appreciate
the CDC routinely releasing state-by-state vaccine data for allocation, doses delivered,
and administration.
[2],
[3],
[4]
However, it is difficult to determine based on this data whether Iowa is
receiving its fair share. This publicly reported data can also lag. In our
request for the CDC to publicly release its weekly formula to allocate vaccines,
we ask the CDC to publish this information in a simple format for every week
you have allocated vaccines and each state’s weekly pro-rata share of vaccine
allocations.
If the
CDC publishes the week-to-week formula and key details, this transparency will
ensure Iowans and all Americans can confirm the federal government is fairly
allocating vaccines and build confidence in the vaccine distribution
process.
Thank
you for your attention to this matter. If you have questions, please reach out
to members of our staff, Nic Pottebaum (202-224-5988) and Anna Breen
(202-224-3254).
Sincerely,
The
Honorable Mr. Jeffrey Zients, White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator
General
Gustave F. Perna, Chief Operating Officer, Operation Warp Speed