Optimizing chemical agent medical countermeasures in the Strategic National Stockpile

Chemical agents, unlike biological agents such as bacteria or viruses, include toxic chemicals that cause adverse effects death, temporary incapacitation, permanent harm to humans animals. These are structurally and functionally diverse, leading a wide range of possible dangers. However, federal threat assessments over the years have deemed chemical lesser than agents. This, in turn, has led Department Health Human Services deprioritize critical research investment into stockpiling medical countermeasures (MCMs) can save lives event an exposure, resulting lowered appropriation levels toward developing MCMs against for Strategic National Stockpile (SNS). Additionally, annual reviews SNS directly inform budget allocations appropriations future were not conducted from FY2017 FY2019, further weakening preparedness constantly changing landscape. As such, there gaps inclusion pursuit SNS. Costs non-procurement spending, transitioning MCM integration, maintaining repositories existing fiscal (FYs) 2020 2021 calculated based on planned spending costs published Appendix A Public Emergency Medical Countermeasures Enterprise Multiyear Budget FY18-22. The allocated funding FYs combined is insufficient maintain updated repository be drawn case public health crisis while simultaneously growing integrate newer compared those years. regulatory policies enforce recommended. increased direct bolstering alternative avenues development essential emerging threats.