The Biden administration is urging COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers to ensure that the upcoming updated vaccines for the fall are priced in an affordable manner. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra emphasized the need for these vaccines to be reasonably priced, taking into account the value derived from the investment made by the U.S. government. In a letter addressed to the CEOs of Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax, Becerra highlighted that price gouging behavior exploits the trust placed by the American people in these companies during the COVID-19 response.
With the conclusion of the public health emergency associated with the pandemic, the federal government is no longer covering the costs of COVID-19 vaccines, making them solely available in the commercial market. Becerra assured that his department is working to facilitate a smooth transition and expects the vaccines to continue being accessible in various locations including pharmacies, clinics, health departments, and providers’ offices.
In the interest of keeping up with the evolving virus variants, the Food and Drug Administration has advised vaccine manufacturers to develop vaccines targeting XBB.1.5, which currently accounts for around 40 percent of COVID-19 cases in the U.S. Although this number is declining, vaccine companies are actively working on developing XBB-specific vaccines that will be ready for distribution by the end of the summer. Becerra has instructed these companies to anticipate regulatory actions regarding the updated vaccinations by late September.
It is worth noting that Pfizer and Moderna have previously indicated that their vaccine shots could cost up to $130 per dose. It remains to be seen how the companies will approach pricing for the new fall vaccines.
In conclusion, the Biden administration is actively engaged in ensuring that COVID-19 vaccines remain affordable while urging vaccine manufacturers to consider the value of government investment. The goal is to maintain seamless access to vaccines through various distribution channels, even with the shift from government-funded distribution to commercial availability.
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