For more information: www.cdc.gov/COVID19

COVID-19 Vaccine Program Updates

Georgina Peacock, MD, MPH, FAAP

Director, Immunization Services Division

National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Overarching Objectives for the U.S. COVID-19 

Vaccination Program

Ensure safety and 

effectiveness of 

COVID-19 

vaccines

Reduce mortality, 

morbidity, and 

incidence of 

COVID-19 disease

Help minimize 

disruption to 

society and 

economy, including 

maintaining 

healthcare capacity

Ensure equity in 

vaccine allocation 

and distribution
End of the Public Health Emergency on May 11, 2023

and the COVID-19 Vaccination Program

▪ What will change

▪ Possible reduced submission of vaccine administration data from some 

jurisdictions which may limit completeness of administration data on a national 

level

▪ Most jurisdictions have signed a COVID-19 vaccine Data Use Agreement extension 

through the end of 2023
End of the Public Health Emergency on May 11, 2023

and the COVID-19 Vaccination Program

• What will not change

▪ CDC working with public and private partners to learn more about the short- and 

long-term health effects associated with COVID-19, who is affected, and why –

and implementing vaccine recommendations to optimize protection

▪ FDA’s EUAs for COVID-19 products (including vaccines)

▪ All vaccines purchased by the U.S. government will continue to be distributed and 

available for free

Public Health Emergency ending ≠ Commercialization
Commercialization of COVID-19 Vaccines

• Commercialization of COVID-19 vaccines is the transition of vaccines previously purchased by the U.S. Government 

(USG), to established pathways of procurement, distribution, and payment by both public and private payers

• Timeline: Likely in early Fall

– Considerations include what will be authorized by FDA and recommended by CDC, and what will align with a 

strain change for potential variants

• After commercialization, vaccines will remain free for most people through the Vaccines for Children Program, 

Children’s Health Insurance Program, most commercial insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid programs

https://aspr.hhs.gov/COVID-19/Pages/FAQ-Commercialization.aspx
▪ Vaccination equity: when everyone has fair and just access to 

vaccination.

▪ CDC works with national, state, tribal, territorial, healthcare, and 

community partners to ensure all people have fair and just 

access to vaccination.

▪ CDC uses a Social Vulnerability Index to support areas at 

increased risk.

▪ Making sure the uninsured have continued access to COVID-19 

vaccines with as few financial barriers as possible is a top 

priority

Focus on Vaccination Equity
Pharmacies Help 

Increase Access 

to Vaccines
▪ HHS recently announced intent to amend the declaration under the PREP Act for 

medical countermeasures against COVID-19.

▪ By issuing this amendment, the HHS Secretary intends to extend immunity liability to 

pharmacists, pharmacy interns, and pharmacy technicians to administer COVID-19 

and seasonal influenza vaccines through December 2024.

▪ Additional information on the planned amendment to the declaration under the 

PREP Act can be found at https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2023/04/14/factsheethhs-announces-amend-declaration-prep-act-medical-countermeasures-againstcovid19.html

Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) 

Act for Medical Countermeasures against COVID-19
Inflation Reduction Act

https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/inflation-reduction-act-lowers-health-care-costs-millions-americans
The proposed Vaccines for Adults program would reduce the spread of vaccinepreventable diseases and pave the way to greater health equity

VACCINES FOR 

ADULTS 

PROGRAM

VACCINE PURCHASE

Purchase of recommended 

vaccines for all uninsured 

adults

PROGRAM OPERATIONS

CDC staff and systems for scientific 

and policy support, program 

monitoring, and vaccine safety and 

distribution

PROVIDER FEES

Covering the cost of supplies, 

patient education, storage, and 

staffing

PROVIDER FEE 

MANAGEMENT

Contracts to administer the provider 

reimbursement process

VACCINE CONFIDENCE

Support vaccine equity through partnerships, communications, and 

technical assistance

AND EQUITY ACTIVITIES*

*These activities are funded 

in the FY24 CDC Budget with 

base immunization funding, 

not the newly proposed 

mandatory funding proposal 

that would support the rest 

of these activities.
FY24 President's Budget Request: Vaccines for Adults (VFA)
Looking Forward

Continued 

surveillance of 

viruses

Continuing focus 

on vaccine equity

Continued vaccine 

effectiveness 

studies

Communicating about 

the Public Health 

Emergency ending

Collaborating with 

partners on vaccine

commercialization

Increasing 

vaccine 

confidence