WASHINGTON – As the COVID-19 pandemic ravaged the nation, daily death tolls were alarmingly high, with many Americans under stay-at-home orders and mandatory mask protocols. During that turbulent period, a significant number of individuals eagerly awaited vaccinations against the virus.
Xavier Becerra, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, reflects on this challenging time as he prepares to depart from his role, potentially handing the reins to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has openly criticized the vaccines that Becerra and his peers encouraged to combat the deadly pandemic. “At one point, we were losing as many lives each day as if ten jumbo jets had crashed. That was the reality,” Becerra noted in a discussion. “Now, four years later, we have made substantial progress.”
Becerra, who previously served as California’s attorney general and congressman, was recognized for his steadfast commitment to the Affordable Care Act, which positioned him to oversee a vast $1.7 trillion agency responsible for significant aspects of public health, such as health insurance, vaccine development, and food safety inspections.
His time in office has seen notable achievements, including managing one of the largest vaccination campaigns in U.S. history and revitalizing enrollment in the Affordable Care Act. However, this has also been accompanied by issues, such as a severe baby formula shortage that left many parents in distress and scrutiny regarding his management of migrant children’s welfare.
As he prepares to depart, Becerra offers recommendations for his possible successor. Without directly naming Kennedy, he emphasizes the necessity of vigilance regarding unseen threats. He warns of potential cyberattacks that can incapacitate hospitals and emerging diseases like avian flu that have begun to affect livestock across the nation. “There’s a lot of unpredictability in healthcare, and we are not sufficiently prepared,” he stated.
Vaccination efforts, particularly for COVID-19, have seen fluctuating success. Becerra attributes the initial high vaccination rates, with about 78% of Americans receiving at least their first dose within a year, to innovative campaigns that made vaccines more accessible through community-oriented events. Nevertheless, the uptake for subsequent booster shots has diminished significantly, and confidence in other vaccines is declining. In light of Kennedy’s stance against child vaccinations, the future of vaccine guidance remains uncertain. “Messages that discourage vaccination can lead to decreased trust in health recommendations,” he warned.
While the number of insured individuals in the U.S. has seen a marked increase during Becerra’s tenure, with nearly 24 million people now covered through the Affordable Care Act’s marketplace, challenges remain within the healthcare system. Becerra noted that increased coverage has been primarily fueled by substantial government subsidies that have made premiums more manageable, yet these financial supports may expire soon if Congressional action isn’t taken.
Despite this progress, systemic issues linger. Becerra describes a fragmented healthcare landscape where providers profit without necessarily delivering adequate care, leading to uneven access to healthcare services. “We have excellent scientific advancements and technology at our disposal, but affordability is a significant barrier to accessing these resources,” he concluded.
