ASPR Mission and Key Priorities

The response to the COVID-19 pandemic has required an unprecedented whole of government approach. ASPR leads the ongoing coordination of the COVID-19 response across HHS.

The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) in its work with DOD contributed significantly in the effort that resulted in the two authorized and one approved COVID vaccines in less than a year. These vaccines are among the most important tools available to respond to the pandemic. BARDA also develops therapeutics and diagnostics.

The National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) program deploys medical teams to communities in need to support local hospitals and health systems in the wake of disasters such as hurricanes as well as COVID-19 surges.

To make sure ASPR doesn’t lose the capability developed during COVID, ASPR is extending capabilities in the areas of logistics, operations, and distribution.

ASPR is actively restoring and strengthening capabilities depleted during the pandemic such as the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) and securing the public health supply chain.

The SNS will be replenished to levels at or above pre-COVID-19 amounts to ensure ASPR is prepared for any subsequent wave of cases and to do so – to the extent possible – with domestically managed supplies and equipment.

It also is critical to address the root cause of why supply chains were strained in the first place. ASPR is working to ensure a safe and consistent public health supply chain for medical materials, ingredients, and supplies that are critical for any national response to public health emergencies.

ASPR is strengthening the industrial base to secure and develop domestic capacity, retool and expand industry machinery, scale production facilities, train workforces, and ultimately infuse the supply chain and marketplace with products the U.S. needs to contain further pandemic waves.