Message to protect all fellow American health workers:
There is and will be a national shortage of (personal protective equipment) PPE for doctors and medical workers! The Federal Government needs to invoke the Defense Production Act and nationalize the supply chain for all PPE immediately. The Defense Production Act is an order that essentially gives the Department of Health and Human Services the ability to prioritize contracts so that U.S. government orders of surgical masks, disinfectants and other medical products are filled before any commercial or other orders. Currently, 10% of all Covid-19 cases in Spain are from medical professionals and Italy has 5,000 infected health workers. We are on trajectory to equal or surpass Italy in the number of health workers infected according to current models, if we do not manufacture and distribute enough PPE to the proper locations as per need.

Currently, most American companies that manufacture PPE have voluntarily agreed to listen to the manufacturing requests of the Federal Government. Unfortunately, the distribution is a major bottleneck, which is causing PPE not to be distributed to areas with the greatest need. The various companies do not have the oversight and visibility to figure out where to send the equipment at this time, as they are all competitors! The Federal Government has the resources to oversee distribution much better than individual states and Governors. More importantly, if too much PPE go to the wrong hospitals and clinics, then dentists, ophthalmologists, dermatologists, plastic surgeons, chiropractors and many other specialists will not have the PPE they require once their clinical restrictions are lifted and non-elective surgeries are reallowed! This will create a delayed secondary bottleneck in the delivery of healthcare and cause unnecessary pain, suffering and possible death as well even after the immediate threat is alleviated. Please sign to help protect ourselves, our patients and our families!