US Health Officials Prepare to Transition Covid-19 Vaccines to Commercial Market
In a move to transition the distribution of Covid-19 vaccines to the commercial market, US health officials are making plans to sunset the federal government’s vaccine distribution program by next month. The three leading vaccine manufacturers, Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax, have been informed of the expectations for this transition in a letter from US Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra.
The letter outlines the expectation that vaccines will continue to be available in various locations where the public currently receives them, such as pharmacies, clinics, healthcare provider offices, and health departments, to maximize access. The manufacturers are advised to plan for the fall’s vaccine supply and regulatory submissions in order for the US Food and Drug Administration to take action and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to make recommendations by the latter part of September.
Furthermore, the manufacturers are urged to prepare an ample supply of doses for the 2023-24 Covid-19 vaccination campaign, as updated vaccines will be entering the market this fall. Secretary Becerra emphasizes the importance of pricing these vaccines reasonably, reflective of the value obtained through the US government’s investment, to avoid taking advantage of the trust placed in the manufacturers.
The transition of vaccine distribution will begin on August 3, with the government phasing out its distribution in preparation for the September transition. US health officials anticipate working with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and other payors to ensure necessary payment information is available for the updated vaccines.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has also provided details on the access to Covid-19 vaccines for uninsured individuals. Uninsured children will be eligible to receive the vaccines at no cost through the CDC’s Vaccines for Children program, while uninsured adults can access free vaccines through the temporary program called the Bridge Access Program for Covid-19 Vaccines and Treatments.
The Bridge Access Program will allow the CDC to purchase and distribute vaccines through its network of state and local health departments. Pharmacy chains will also continue to offer free vaccines to the uninsured through their retail locations.
Secretary Becerra’s letter assures that HHS will continue to provide vaccine manufacturers with details to facilitate their partnership on the program. However, despite about 69.5% of the total US population completing a primary series of Covid-19 vaccines, only around 17% have received the updated booster shot released last fall, according to CDC data.
In June, the FDA recommended the production of single-strain booster shots for the Omicron subvariant XBB.1.5, with updated vaccines expected to be available in mid- to late September. Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax have been working on updated versions of their vaccines, with Pfizer projected to be the dominant provider, expecting a 64% market share this year.
Overall, the transition to the commercial market aims to ensure the continued availability and accessibility of Covid-19 vaccines for the public.