Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Cory Booker
Newark, NJ – U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Representative Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ-11) urged the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to increase testing and vaccine availability for New Jersey given the disproportionate risk that the state faces as the number of monkeypox virus (MPV) cases increase across the United States.
“With more than 9.2 million people spread across 8,723 square miles between two of the largest metropolitan areas in the country—New York City and Greater Philadelphia—New Jersey is the most densely populated state in America,” wrote the lawmakers in a letter to HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. “Currently, New York leads the country with the most cases of MPV in the United States….Recent history suggests that New Jersey follows New York’s lead in terms of the spread of infectious diseases.”
The lawmakers note: “Experts are concerned that the virus will become entrenched if the outbreak is not met with an adequate public health response. Unfortunately, MPV testing efforts have been hampered by processing challenges that have resulted in underreporting and a lack of data to help the federal government allocate resources appropriately. In addition, implementation of a rapid and efficient mass vaccination program is essential to containing and eradicating MPV in communities across New Jersey and the United States.”
Although New York has received additional doses on top of their standard population size allocation, New Jersey has yet to receive the basic allocation for the state’s expected disease burden. The lawmakers requested that New Jersey receives its “fair share on behalf of New Jersey residents” and “additional allocation given [its] interwoven relationship with Philadelphia and New York City.”
Booker and Sherrill also urged Secretary Becerra to ensure that “[a]ny federal response and aid directed to the LGBTQ+ community must not inadvertently stigmatize the ongoing public health crisis, but there should be targeted outreach to get resources to impacted communities.” The lawmakers concluded by reiterating their call for an increase in “testing and vaccine availability for the State of New Jersey given the disproportionate risk faced by residents and visitors.”
Full text of the letter can be found here.
Christian Fuscarino, Executive Director of Garden State Equality, a New Jersey organization dedicated to lifting up the diverse voices of LGBTQ+ communities, applauded Booker and Sherrill for the letter, stating, “We must ensure that high-risk populations and communities that face barriers to healthcare have easier access to vaccinations. We commend Senator Cory Booker and Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill for educating our federal partners on why New Jersey must receive a similar percentage of vaccine allocation as our neighbors in New York City and Philadelphia. Their voices are invaluable at this critical time.”
Booker and Sherrill hosted a townhall on Monday with members of the LGBTQ+ community. The event was part of Booker’s 2022 Jersey Summer Road Trip, a series of stops highlighting the priorities he continues to fight for in the U.S. Senate on behalf of the state’s residents. The road trip will focus on Booker’s ongoing commitment to serving New Jersey’s veterans, his efforts to secure congressionally directed spending for critical New Jersey projects and organizations, and his support of local businesses and industries, among other things.