White House announces The National Covid-19 Preparedness Plan to move the U.S. to a new and better stage of the pandemic

The National Covid-19 Preparedness Plan, which will require additional funding from Congress, is focused on spending on treatments for Covid-19, preparing for new variants, keeping schools and businesses open and continuing the effort to vaccinate the nation and the world.

"This plan lays out the roadmap to help us fight Covid-19 in the future as we move America from crisis to a time when Covid-19 does not disrupt our daily lives and is something we prevent, protect against and treat," a summary of the plan shared with CNN reads.

 

See: Text of The National COVID-⁠19 Preparedness Plan

"We look to a future when Americans no longer fear lockdowns, shutdowns, and our kids not going to school. It's a future when the country relies on the powerful layers of protection we have built and invests in the next generation of tools to stay ahead of this virus."

The plan includes an effort to vaccinate children under 5 years of age if the US Food and Drug Administration issues its authorization and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends vaccination for that group. It includes increasing vaccine and test manufacturing capacity, the "Test to Treat" initiative announced by President Joe Biden during his State of the Union address and help for Americans experiencing long-term effects of the virus.