The 2009 H1N1 threat found the United States at the mercy of foreign government-controlled vaccine production facilities which resulted in long delays in U.S. vaccine supplies.  Following nearly $100 billion in funding by HHS for US-based vaccine manufacturing partnerships with several pharmaceutical companies, HHS BARDA (Bio Advanced Research and Development Authority) Director Robin Robinson, Ph.D.  stated, “The increased national manufacturing capacity for pandemic influenza vaccines afforded by this effort is derived from successful public-private partnerships resulting in more US-based vaccine manufacturing facilities and innovative vaccine technologies.” 

 

SMSA applauds these investments and encourages similar public/private partnerships to ensure the security of the U.S. mask supply.   Dr. Robinson himself warns of a dedicated U.S. mask manufacturing base in this video.