Shortages in COVID-19-related tools and vaccines have prompted an government order from President Joe Biden to deal with pressing provide gaps by coordinating, monitoring and strengthening provide chains.

The chief order, known as A Sustainable Public Health Supply Chain and signed on Thursday, was considered one of a flurry of presidential actions issued by Biden after he was sworn in on Wednesday.

The order directs federal companies “to fill provide shortfalls utilizing all accessible authorized authorities, together with the DPA [Defense Production Act] … and identifies fast provide shortfalls that will probably be important to the pandemic response, together with shortages within the dead-space needle syringes accessible to manage the vaccine.”

The order is included within the administration’s 200-page National Strategy for the COVID-19 Response and Pandemic Preparedness, additionally launched Thursday. “If the federal authorities doesn’t act, shortages are anticipated to proceed, particularly in mild of the lean nature of provide chains and the extraordinary world competitors for a similar provides,” the technique warns.

The chief order directs the federal authorities to conduct an instantaneous end-to-end stock of main COVID-19 response provides, “an important first step” to addressing provide chain points, in line with the order. The stock will drive selections about replenishing the Strategic Nationwide Stockpile, use of the DPA, price range requests, investments in manufacturing, and selections about prioritizing provide distribution.

“Use of the already enacted DPA means the President doesn’t want to return to Congress — which is in transition, considering impeachment, holding hearings on nominees, and so forth. — that means it’s a great way for the administration to prepare the pandemic response with out getting slowed down on the Hill,” mentioned Alex Hontos, a accomplice on the legislation agency Dorsey & Whitney. “I count on the Biden administration to make use of the DPA extensively.”

Inside 180 days, the order requires a “Pandemic Provide Chain Resilience Technique” that requires Cupboard secretaries to coordinate with the administration’s COVID-19 response crew to supply the president with a technique to deal with future pandemics. It’s to incorporate an evaluation of the function of international provide chains in America’s pandemic provide chain, America’s function within the worldwide public well being provide chain, “and choices for strengthening and higher coordinating world provide chain techniques in future pandemics.”

Biden additionally signed on Wednesday an government order requiring mask-wearing on certain domestic modes of transportation. The order directs the secretaries of the departments of Labor, Well being and Human Providers, Transportation, and Homeland Safety, in addition to the commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard to “instantly take motion, to the extent acceptable and per relevant legislation, to require masks to be worn in compliance with CDC pointers” in or on: