The Biden administration is launching a $5 billion plan to speed the development of new COVID-19 vaccines and treatments, the Washington Post reported yesterday, citing top federal health officials. Called "Project Next Gen," the effort follows on the heels of "Operation Warp Speed," a Trump-era program that streamlined the development of COVID vaccines.
For vaccines, the goals include versions that can induce mucosal immunity, which could cut transmission risk, and a universal coronavirus vaccine that could help protect against SARS-CoV-2 variants or new coronavirus threats.
Several scientists are pushing for better coronavirus vaccines. In February, a group led by the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP), which publishes CIDRAP News, published a roadmap for advancing better coronavirus vaccines.
Biden signs bill ending national emergency
In other developments, President Joe Biden yesterday signed a bill to end the national emergency for COVID, which was first declared in March 2020, according to NBC News.
The Republican-led measure passed the House and Senate in January and March, respectively. Biden had signaled that he would end both the national emergency and a separate public health emergency on May 11 in an effort to wind down certain pandemic programs in an orderly fashion but said he wouldn't veto legislation.
The two actions have given the government more regulatory power and flexibility in its pandemic response. Examples of programs impacted by the national emergency are mortgage forbearance and Veterans Administration homecare visit evaluations for caregivers. Meanwhile, the public health emergency, for example, affects Medicare rules for keeping vulnerable people covered during the pandemic and has Southwest-border policy implications.