Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases

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use. No rights are implied or extended for use in printing or any use by other CDC CIOs or any external audiences.

Bridge Access Program 

Ensuring no-cost, timely access to the 2023-2024 COVID-19 

vaccines for adults

Evelyn Twentyman, MD, MPH

Immunization Services Division

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Why Do We Need the Bridge Access Program for 

COVID-19 Vaccines?

*Underinsured is defined here as related to vaccination coverage. 

1. Data are internal CDC estimates.

This program will serve as temporary bridge to the permanent and comprehensive Vaccines for 

Adults Program proposed in the FY23 and FY24 President’s Budgets

24.8

7.1

23.0

51.0

121.7

Adult Population by Coverage Status (millions)1

Uninsured

Underinsured*

Medicaid Enrolled (19-64)

Medicare Enrolled

Privately Insured (19-64)

There are 25-30 million adults 

(ages 18-64) without 

insurance, and additional 

adults whose insurance will not 

provide no-cost coverage for 

COVID-19 vaccines after these 

products are commercialized
Ensuring no-cost, timely access to COVID-19 vaccines

▪ Established access for those with insurance

▪ Established access for children

▪ Ensuring no-cost access for adults

▪ Program design to maximize proximity

▪ Program design to maximize equity

▪ Timely access for all
The analysis on which estimates of proximity are based considers a variety of provider types and locations that will 

participate in the BridgeAccess Program. Access may increase if additional providers participate.

• ~8,000 317-enrolled providers

• ~4,500 State-funded vaccine providers

• ~1,400 HRSA-supported health centers (HRSA)

• ~21k Pharmacies

• ~10k CVS locations

• ~9k Walgreens locations

• ~2,000 eTrue North locations – number may 

increase

Providers
Local Health Centers

Health Centers* will partner with 

state immunization programs to 

ensure access to COVID-19 vaccines 

for uninsured adults

HRSA will provide funding to 

participating HRSA-supported 

health centers to support services 

that will help ensure equitable 

access. State immunization 

programs will design distribution of 

vaccines.

Pharmacies

Pharmacies will ensure access to nocost COVID-19 vaccines using their 

extensive footprints and community 

partnerships

Vaccines will be donated by 

manufacturers to pharmacies, and 

administration costs will be 

covered by CDC.

Existing partnerships with state and 

local health departments (S/LHDs) 

will facilitate distribution of COVID19 vaccines through providers in 

networks

CDC will manage purchase and 

distribution of COVID-19 vaccines

and provide oversight and technical 

assistance. State immunization 

programs will design distribution of 

vaccines.

Local Healthcare Providers

Where Will Vaccines Be Available Through the Bridge 

Access Program? 

*HRSA-funded health centers and Health Center Program look-alike organizations
Walgreens locations sourced from Walgreens Store Locator website early August 2023.

CVS locations sourced from CVS Store Locator website early August 2023.

eTN Pharmacy vaccination locations from ICATT/eTN early September 2023.

HRSA Health Center COVID-19 Vaccine Program Participants (FQHCs) from HRSA early September 2023.

Providers who received shipment of 317-funded routine adult vaccine CY21-23 from VTrckS late July 2023.

Providers who received shipment of State-funded routine adult vaccine CY21-23 from VTrckS late July 2023.

Note: Some points may not be visible due to point 

overlap. Points are displayed in order of site count from 

least to most: top - eTN, HRSA, State, 317, Walgreens, 

CVS - bottom)

Overall, 85% of uninsured 

populations live <5 miles from 

Bridge Access Program site:

• Urban: 97%

• Suburban: 59%

• Rural: 39%

Overall, 5% of uninsured 

populations estimated to be 

>10 miles from BridgeAccess

Program site

National Proposed Bridge Access Program Site Locations
Bridge Access Program Retail Pharmacy Approaches

▪ ▪CVS plans to administer doses within both their 

storefronts and Minute clinics 

▪ ▪Walgreens plans to administer doses in both their 

storefronts and at off-site events targeting areas of low 

access & low uptake

▪ ▪eTrueNorth is a pharmacy aggregator that 

subcontracts with smaller pharmacies

– Intended to reach lower-access areas without other coverage 

within the Bridge Access Program

– Additional subcontract negotiations between eTrueNorth and 

possible additional participating pharmacies are ongoing
Ensuring no-cost, timely access to COVID-19 vaccines

▪ Timely access for all

▪ Established access for those with insurance

▪ Established access for children

▪ Ensuring no-cost access for adults

▪ Program design to maximize proximity

▪ Program design to maximize equity
The Bridge Program would address leading barriers to COVID-19 vaccination:

Program design to maximize equity

• Lack of health insurance or a 

regular provider

• Lack of proximity or 

transportation to place of care

• Inconsistent coverage across 

health insurance policies

• Inconsistent outreach and 

engagement from health 

systems 

• History of 

disparities, discriminatory 

patterns and racism

• Rise in inaccurate 

inoformation about vaccines

Accessibility Availability Confidence

• Providing access to COVID19 vaccines for uninsured 

and underinsured adults at 

no cost

• Designing for optimized 

proximity (variety of 

provider/site types, low-access 

and low-coverage lists and 

payments)

• Supporting and growing 

vaccine confidence through 

partnerships with trusted and 

welcome messengers
Lessons learned from 2022-2023 COVID-19 bivalent booster uptake
Community-based partnerships are key 

Community-based organizations and other partners work with CDC, pharmacies, jurisdictions, and HRSA-supported 

health centers to reduce barriers to COVID-19 vaccine access and promote uptake. These partners are particularly critical to 

reaching people who are uninsured or underinsured. 

FUNDED PARTNERS

CBOs and other funded partners will:

• Host community outreach events to spread 

awareness of the Bridge Program

• Work within their communities as trusted and 

welcome messengers 

• Partner with providers to hold vaccine clinics to 

provide greater access to vaccination

• Develop educational materials to promote COVID19 vaccination and the Bridge Program

All 

Americans
The BridgeAccess Program is a temporary “bridge” to 

a permanent Vaccines for Adults (VFA) Program

The Bridge Access Program serves as a temporary solution for access to COVID-19 vaccines for adults. VFA and 

additional 317 funding are needed to bridge the gap in equitable access to immunization across the lifespan. 
▪ CDC’s Bridge Website

– A central location for information and communications assets

▪ Program guides for specific implementing partners

▪ Clinician-facing calls and materials for vaccine providers

▪ Communications toolkit for partners

– Digital toolkit for program resources and promotional materials including key messages, sample newsletter, and 

communications assets

▪ vaccines.gov

– Where patients and care providers can go this week to find all sites providing no-cost COVID-19 vaccines through 

the Bridge Access Program, as well as all other providers for COVID-19 or influenza vaccines

▪ Bridge Access Program Call Center

– Available this week through 1-800-CDC-INFO

– https://www.cdc.gov/cdc-info/index.html

Resources for partners
For more information, contact CDC

1-800-CDC-INFO (232-4636)

TTY: 1-888-232-6348 www.cdc.gov

The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official 

position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Photographs and images included in this presentation are licensed solely for CDC/NCIRD online and presentation 

use. No rights are implied or extended for use in printing or any use by other CDC CIOs or any external audiences.

Thank you