Office on Women's Health Blog
News and Announcements
Trump Administration Deploys Abbott BinaxNOW Tests to States
The Trump Administration today detailed the national distribution plan for the Abbott BinaxNOW Ag Card rapid test to assist Governors’ efforts to continue to safely reopen their states.
Trump Administration Takes Action to Expand Access to COVID-19 Vaccines
Today, under the leadership of President Trump, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Assistant Secretary for Health, issued guidance under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act (PREP Act) to expand access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines when they are made available. This guidance authorizes state-licensed pharmacists to order and administer, and state-licensed or registered pharmacy interns acting under the supervision of the qualified pharmacist to administer, COVID-19 vaccinations to persons ages 3 or older, subject to certain requirements. Read more
HHS Extends Coverage For COVID-19 Screening Tests at Congregate Facilities during the Pandemic
Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Assistant Secretary for Health, extended coverage under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act (PREP Act) to licensed healthcare practitioners prescribing or administering point-of-care COVID-19 tests, using anterior nares specimen collection or self-collection, for screening in congregate facilities across the Nation. Enhancing the safety of nursing homes, assisted-living facilities, long-term-care facilities, and other facilities where people congregate to receive care or education or to work is critical for our Nation’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Using COVID-19 tests to screen for infections, including in asymptomatic individuals, is a key part of that effort. Read more
Trump Administration Will Deploy 150 Million Rapid Tests in 2020
Major Investment made to scale up rapid point-of-care COVID-19 tests for vulnerable and schools Today, as part of an historic initiative led by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of and Defense (DOD), the Administration awarded a contract for $760 million to Abbott for delivery of 150 million rapid, Abbott BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag Card Point of Care (POC) SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic tests to expand strategic, evidence-based testing in the United States. Testing will be potentially deployed to schools and to assist with serving other special needs populations. Read more
HHS Expands Access to Childhood Vaccines during COVID-19 Pandemic
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a third amendment to the Declaration under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act (PREP Act) to increase access to lifesaving childhood vaccines and decrease the risk of vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks as children across the United States return to daycare, preschool and school.
HHS Details Multiple COVID-19 Testing Statistics as National Test Volume Surges
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that more than 59 million COVID-19 tests have now been completed nationally – averaging over 810,000 per day over the past seven days. Over the past month, the percentage of lab tests that were completed within three days was 45; over the last seven days, it was over 56.
Today, the Trump Administration recognized and thanked the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) Commissioned Corps at its Headquarters, as the USPHS continues to deploy more than two-thirds of its force to support the fight against the COVID-19 public health emergency.
Request for Information-Long-Term Monitoring of Health Care System Resilience
The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH) in the Department of Health and Human Services seeks to gain a more comprehensive understanding of how organizations, networks, non-federal government agencies, and other relevant stakeholders in the United States have operationally defined “resilience”
Written Statement by ADM Brett P. Giroir to WHO’s 147th Executive Board
Thank you Chair, Director-General Tedros, Fellow Executive Board Members, Excellencies, I am honored to be with you today to participate in the WHO’s 147th Executive Board meeting as the Executive Board Member for the United States.
Celebrating Active and Healthy Women and Girls During National Women’s Health Week
Honorable Nan Hayworth, MD, Member of the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition
This year we observe National Women’s Health Week in the midst of a global public health crisis.
