In times of crisis, access to essential medications can be a matter of survival. Critical pharmaceuticals, vaccines, and supplies — known as medical countermeasures — are vital in preventing, mitigating, or treating adverse health effects during pandemics, natural disasters, bioterrorism events and other emergencies. In my work to contribute to strengthening health system resilience across the U.S., I’ve observed how the distribution of these life-saving resources often falls short of equitable. People who are medically underserved bear the brunt of this inequality, as seen during disasters like Hurricane Katrina, when vulnerable communities struggled to obtain the medical supplies and treatments they desperately needed.