Surgo shows how each state’s healthcare workers fare under Operation Warp Speed’s initial vaccine plan: Wyoming, Nevada among winners; DC, Massachusetts shortchanged

Last night, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted for vaccination in the “1A” phase of the COVID-19 vaccine program to be offered to both health care personnel and residents of long-term care facilities. In light of the influential panel’s decision, Surgo Foundation urged governors to utilize available data to ensure that their states’ limited vaccine supplies will go as far as they can toward protecting critical healthcare workers.

“We’re concerned by Operation Warp Speed’s recommendation to deliver the first 6.4 million vaccine doses to states not based on prioritized risk groups, but on a state’s adult population,” said Dr. Sema Sgaier, co-founder and executive director of Surgo Foundation. “lgnoring the data on where priority groups live and work is neither fair nor strategic. As a nurse working on the COVID-19 frontlines, why should your chances of getting vaccinated depend on whether you happen to live in West Virginia or Wyoming?”

Steve Pearson Hired as Surgo’s First Director of Development

Surgo Foundation Executive Director Sema Sgaier announced today that the organization has hired Steve Pearson, a seasoned development professional with expertise in global development, domestic policy, and political fundraising, to serve as its first Director of Development.

“We’re delighted to welcome Steve to the Surgo team,” said Sgaier. “Steve brings an invaluable combination of development expertise, strategic thinking, and political savvy that will help lead our organization into its exciting next chapter -- which we look forward to sharing more about soon.”

As Surgo’s Director of Development, Pearson will develop and implement strategies to build a sustainable and diverse revenue base for the organization, through investments from private foundations, individuals, corporate partnerships, and government entities.

Previously, he held senior positions cultivating and soliciting major gifts for The ONE Campaign and two major global think tanks—The Brookings Institution and The Wilson Center. He has played leading roles in the creation of advisory groups to steward highly-engaged funders; management of major and multiyear foundation and corporate partnerships; and production of a global event-fundraising program—The Woodrow Wilson Awards. 

Pearson’s career in Washington, DC spans 27 years and includes political fundraising at the national level during two presidential elections and inaugurals; work as a government relationships professional for a national trade association; and three years on Capitol Hill, serving as a legislative assistant for two members of Congress.

U.S. Vaccine Allocation Planner for COVID-19 launched by Ariadne Labs and Surgo Foundation

When COVID-19 vaccines become available in the United States, there won’t be enough to vaccinate everyone right away, and states will need to allocate them to their highest priority populations. A new tool, the Vaccine Allocation Planner for COVID-19, provides state and county decision makers the region-specific data they will need to distribute vaccines to different populations based on available vaccine doses, priority populations, and vulnerable communities.

The tool was jointly developed by Ariadne Labs, a joint center for health systems innovation at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health; and Surgo Foundation, a nonprofit focused on solving health and social problems with precision. 

Visit covid19vaccineallocation.org to learn more.