WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Neal Dunn, M.D. (Florida-02) recently introduced the COVID-19 Access to Testing and Support for Immune Response Research Act of 2021 (H.R. 5745), a bill that would increase access to T-cell immunity testing.

H.R. 5745 directs the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to coordinate scientific and clinical research related to the cellular immune response to COVID-19. The bill also directs the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to cover T-cell immunity tests.

“We have overwhelming scientific evidence indicating that prior infection with SARS-CoV-2 does result in substantial immunity. The Biden Administration, CDC, CMS, and NIH have refused to embrace this invaluable evidence and continue to push unnecessary mandates,” said Congressman Dunn. “This should not be a partisan issue. If we are to truly ‘follow the science,’ it’s time to acknowledge the evidence and increase access to immunity testing while also continuing to encourage vaccinations among those who do not have natural immunity.”

In addition to being an advocate for the COVID-19 vaccine, Congressman Dunn has been a strong voice in the fight for recognizing T-cell and infection mediated immunity. Most recently, Congressman Dunn penned a letter to CMS encouraging them to cover T-Cell immunity tests. Additionally, the congressman joined Congressman Daniel Webster (Florida-11) and colleagues in a letter to the White House and CDC urging them to recognize the overwhelming data and evidence that COVID-19 natural immunity confers protection at least equal to that from vaccination.

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