HHS Waits for FDA OK as It Buys 10 Million ‘Reusable’ N95s

The Department of Health and Human Services bought 10 million “reusable” N95 respirators on condition that those masks receive emergency use authorization by the FDA, according to an HHS spokesperson.

The contract with American Medical Depot, a medical supply distributor, lists the respirators as having a 14-day reusability. However, the respirators—made by Nexera Medical—are only approved for single use by the Food and Drug Administration, American Medical President Akhil Agrawal said in an emailed statement.

A request is being submitted to the FDA for an emergency use authorization to allow the Nexera respirators to be reused, Agrawal said. The respirators ...