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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases
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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
51.0121.7Adult 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 Bridge Access 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
increaseProviders
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 no -
cost 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 COVID -
19 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 ProvidersWhere 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 Bridge Access
Program siteNational 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-siteevents 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 vaccinesAccessibility Availability Confidence
•Providing access to COVID -
19 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 COVID -
19 vaccination and the Bridge Program
All
Americans
The Bridge Access 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.htmlResources 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