June 11, 2021

Dear Friends,

It is important that we have a clear understanding of the origins of COVID-19. I told Carl Higbie on Newsmax’s Saturday Report that Dr. Fauci deserves the opportunity to come before the Congressional committees, this time under oath, to defend himself.

During the interview, I also brought up how I was able to finally get the Chairwoman of the Energy and Commerce Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee to agree that we needed to investigate the origins of the virus.

National Update:

According to a study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there has been a decrease in COVID-19 cases and COVID-19 related deaths in older adult populations. These numbers are being attributed to higher vaccination rates.

• The CDC still recommends that everyone in health care facilities wear a face covering.
• On June 18th, the CDC vaccine advisory committee will meet to discuss reported heart issues in those who received the Moderna or Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.

The U.S. government will produce 1.7 million courses of monupiravir (MK-4482), a Merck investigational oral antiviral treatment for mild to moderate cases of COVID-19, if granted emergency use authorization or approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The FDA announced the increased shelf life of Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine.

• The FDA warned against the use of Innova SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Rapid Qualitative Test for diagnostic use.

The U.S. The Department of Health and Human Services published policy recommendations pertaining to vulnerabilities in U.S. pharmaceutical supply chains.

The Health Resources and Services Administration will provide $424.7 million to more than 4,200 Rural Health Clinics for COVID-19 testing.

Pfizer is working on a co-administration/booster study observing the safety and immune response of adults receiving their vaccine as a third dose booster alongside the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services are providing a payment increase for in-home COVID-19 vaccine administration in Medicare.

The National Institutes of Health granted the first awards for Long COVID research as part of the RECOVER Initiative.

North Texas Update:

Through June 30, 2021, The Texas Health and Human Services Commission extended Medicaid COVID-19 flexibilities. Updated information on this extension is on the state's provider website and theTexas Medicaid Healthcare Partnership (TMHP) website.

Gov. Abbott announced an expansion of the Mobile Vaccine Program now including groups of five or more Texans who voluntarily choose to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. To schedule a mobile vaccine clinic call 844-90-TEXAS and select Option 3.

Until next time, this is your doctor's note.

Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D.