White House: Without funding US will lose COVID treatments

WASHINGTON (AP) — After two years at the front of the line for COVID-19 vaccines and treatments, the U.S. could soon have to begin taking a number.

The White House is warning that other countries are already moving ahead of the U.S. in putting in their advance orders for the next generation of therapies.

The problem is lack of funding. Many in Congress are willing to vote for the billions now needed.

But Senate Republicans are demanding that as part of the deal Democrats must agree to extend pandemic-related, Trump-era border restrictions.

Unless Congress can break that impasse, the White House says, more Americans will get COVID and die.