Vaccinations Will End the Delta Variant Surge

September 09, 2021

ARLINGTON, VA—The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) Chief Executive Officer Michael Fraser, PhD, issued the below statement today in response to the Path Out of the Pandemic: President Biden’s COVID-19 Action Plan.

“ASTHO supports the goals outlined in the Biden Administration’s COVID-19 action plan. Our frontline healthcare and public health workers, teachers, children, and vulnerable populations are counting on all of us—to come together with a common goal which is to protect the health of our communities. State and territorial health officials implore all Americans to work together and get vaccinated, so we can bring this pandemic to an end.

“State and territorial health officials call on all Americans to redouble their efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. We’re 18 months in and need everyone to help our nation increase vaccination rates among all Americans 12+ and follow other prevention strategies, including mask wearing and physical distancing. COVID-19 vaccines are safe, effective, and free, and are our best way to ultimately end this pandemic. The pain, suffering, and death we are experiencing during the delta variant surge is entirely preventable.”

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ASTHO is the national nonprofit organization representing the public health agencies of the United States, the U.S. territories and freely associated states, and Washington, D.C., as well as the more than 100,000 public health professionals these agencies employ. ASTHO members, the chief health officials of these jurisdictions, are dedicated to formulating and influencing sound public health policy and to ensuring excellence in public health practice.