Reuters exclusively reveals U.S. health agency may be unprepared to take over COVID vaccine program

Reuters exclusively reported that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) appeared unprepared to assume full responsibility for the nation’s COVID-19 vaccine program, including activities currently managed by the Pentagon. The report cites a failure to ensure HHS has enough staff or a clear timeline for taking over those additional responsibilities. Additionally, the report found HHS had not ensured “it has sufficient workforce capacity” nor arranged “a schedule to manage the remaining vaccine development, manufacturing and distribution activities,” risking a loss of capabilities.