Katko Leads Push for National COVID-19 Vaccination Awareness Day

WASHINGTON, DC – Rep. John Katko (R-NY), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, today introduced a House resolution calling on President Joe Biden to declare National COVID-19 Vaccination Awareness Day as a one-time federal holiday.

The federal holiday would promote more rapid distribution of COVID-19 vaccines to all areas of the country and increase public awareness of the important role of vaccination for a return to pre-pandemic life. It would also acknowledge the historic public-private partnerships, including Operation Warp Speed, which unleashed the full power of American ingenuity and led to the successful development of multiple safe and effective vaccines in record time. Finally, the holiday would highlight the overwhelming scientific consensus on vaccine safety and efficacy to prevent the spread of dangerous diseases, such as COVID-19.

“The fact that our nation has developed and started distributing several safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines in under a year is nothing short of extraordinary,” said Ranking Member Katko. “With the promise of more supplies on the horizon, we must encourage more Americans to get vaccinated while continuing to collaborate with federal, state, and local leaders to ensure rapid and equitable distribution. Americans can rest assured that there is an end in sight, and together, we will emerge from this pandemic stronger than before.”

Read the full resolution here.

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