An explosive new report has just been published that could significantly hurt any narrative Joe Biden is spewing about the lack of response by the Trump administration.
Both Bloomberg News and the Los Angeles Times are reporting the Obama administration failed to replenish the national stockpile of N95 masks after the H1N1, more commonly known as the Swine Flu, outbreak in 2009.
Ignoring Recommendations
The N95 mask is a standard mask that is used in hospitals throughout the country.
At the time of the H1N1 outbreak, the government has a massive stockpile of medical supplies, including these masks, to deal with a pandemic viral outbreak.
The stockpile was put in place per a 2005 plan created by the Bush administration.
During the H1N1 outbreak, that supply was virtually wiped out, with an estimated 100 million masks being used, leaving about 12 million remaining in the stockpile.
Bloomberg News reported, “After the H1N1 influenza outbreak in 2009, which triggered a nationwide shortage of masks and caused a 2- to 3-year backlog [of] orders for the N95 variety, the stockpile distributed about three-quarters of its inventory and didn’t build back the supply.”
Additionally, the Los Angeles Times reported the current stockpile is only a “tiny fraction” of what HHS Secretary Alex Azar has reported will be needed.
While projections range up in the billions of masks being needed, had that stockpile been replenished, at the very least, our health care professionals would be in much better shape in terms of supplies.
Joe Biden was obviously a member of this administration and if you listen to him, he played a leading role in how the Obama administration responded to the pandemic.
Keep in mind, though, no travel bans were put in place, no shutdown, and the Defense Production Act were never invoked (all measures that have been taken by Trump to slow the spread of the pandemic).
In addition to asking Biden why those measures were never put in place, he now needs to answer the question as to why the stockpile was never ordered to be replenished after the H1N1 pandemic was over.
He cannot claim ignorance, either, as the recommendation for the stockpile to be replenished came from a task force that was organized and paid for by the federal government.
Charles Johnson, the President of the International Safety Equipment Association, stated, “Our association is unaware of any major effort to restore the stockpile to cover that drawdown.”
So, Joe, what do you have to say for yourself?
Source: Washington Examiner
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