Document text
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases
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.
COVID -19 Vaccine Implementation
Georgina Peacock, MD, MPH
Immunization Services Division
Centers for Disease Control and PreventionEnsuring no -cost, timely access to the 2023 -2024 COVID -19 vaccines
COVID -19 activities are integral to the broader Fall respiratory virus vaccine program goals
Protect Promote Communicate Implement
Protect Americans
from influenza, COVID -
19, and RSVPromote vaccine
uptake among those at
higher risk:
•Older adults and
long -term care
facility residents
•People with
underlying medical
conditions
•People who are
pregnant
•ChildrenCommunicate new and
rapidly changing
recommendations for
influenza, COVID -19,
and RSVImplement Fall
vaccination equitably,
including through the
Bridge Access Program
for COVID -19 VaccinesFall Respiratory Virus Vaccine Program
Commercialization of COVID -19 Vaccines
What will change
▪Transition of federal procurement and
distribution of all COVID -19 vaccines to more
traditional public/private model
▪End of CDC COVID -19 Provider Agreement
▪Vaccine data reporting transitions to routine
reporting processes for jurisdictions that
have signed data use agreement (DUA) with
CDCWhat will not change
▪Evidence -based vaccination program to
develop recommendations, monitor safety
and effectiveness, and strengthen vaccine
confidence
▪CDC’s commitment to ensuring access to
COVID -19 vaccines at no cost
Snapshot of COVID -19 vaccine data reporting plans
Administration data from reporting states National Immunization Surveys
Bridge Access Program for COVID -19 Vaccines
Other surveillance systems
Vaccine Safety Datalink
Other data sources
Omnibus surveys
Internet panel survey of pregnant people
Distribution data
Promotion and Communication
COVID -19 Communications will be part of a Pan -
Respiratory Efforts
Encourage vaccination as the first tool in our toolbox for respiratory virus season
Additional tools to protect yourself:
•washing hands with soap and water
•staying home if you are feeling sick
•avoiding close contact with sick people
•avoiding touching your eyes , nose, and mouth
•Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing
•ensuring the air around us is well -ventilated
•wearing a mask if you’re at risk or if COVID -19 hospitalizations are high in your
area
•Practice good health habits, such as cleaning and disinfecting frequently
touched surfaces, and taking care of your health
Communication Components and Tactics
Healthcare Providers:
•Owned Media
•Social media
•Press release
•Earned Media
•Medscape article
•Trade outlets
•Paid (boosted) social media
•Medical society partner outreachConsumers:
•Owned Media
•Social media posts
•Earned media
• Blanket (matte) release in English
and Spanish
• Op-edpiece
•Paid media
•TV ads in select markets
•Boosted social media posts
•Partner outreach and tool
kit
▪COVID -19 –Bridge Access Program
–Audience: No -cost COVID -19 vaccines for underinsured
and insured adults
–Kickoff: September 2023
–Campaign work underway
▪COVID -19 –General
–Kickoff: September/October 2023
–Communication materials underway
▪RSV
–Kickoff: September 2023
–Older adult vaccine with HCP recommendation and RSV immunization for infants
–Audience: Communication materials under development with a focus on cliniciansCOVID -19 Outreach Activities
Implementation
Resources for partners
▪vaccines.gov
–All sites offering COVID -19and flu vaccines
–This week: sites offering Bridge Access Program COVID -19 vaccines
Ensuring no -cost, timely access to COVID -19 vaccines
▪Timely access for all
▪Established access for those with health insurance
▪Established access for children
▪Ensuring no -cost access for adults
▪Program design to maximize proximity
▪Program design to maximize equity
Availability of COVID vaccine
▪Federal contracts have been modified to allow hastened delivery of the
2023 -2024 COVID -19 vaccines within public health infrastructure for
children and adults
•Projected first dose availability: within 48 hours of CDC
recommendation
▪Contracts with participating retail pharmacies have been modified to
allow doses with the Bridge Access Program to begin simultaneously with
doses offered through private insurance
•Projected first dose availability: within 48 hours of CDC
recommendation
▪Commercial insurance is expected to be available in the same timeframe
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
Insurance plans will cover the 2023 -2024 COVID -19
vaccines immediately
▪The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires insurers to cover most ACIP -recommended
vaccines without cost sharing by the next coverage year1
–COVID -19 vaccines are on recommended schedules since February 20232
▪Section 3203 of the CARES Act expedites coverage of COVID -19 vaccines beyond
that which is required of most preventive services
–As of January 5, 2021: “plans and issuers must cover COVID -19 vaccines and their
administration without cost sharing immediately once the vaccine becomes
authorized under an EUA or approved under a BLA, and according to the scope of
the applicable EUA or BLA”3
▪In July 2023, HHS issued guidance to payors to prepare to cover COVID -19
vaccination with the onset of COVID -19 vaccine commercialization4
1. 42 U.S. Code §300gg –13 -Coverage of preventive health services. https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/42/300gg -13
2. CDC Immunization Schedules by Age: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/hcp/index.html
3. FAQs about Affordable Care Act Implementation Part 50: https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/EBSA/about -ebsa/our -activities/resource -center/faqs/aca -part -50.pdf
4. CMS Administrator Brooks -LaSure Letter to Payors Regarding Coverage of COVID -19 Vaccines Post Commercialization, July 13 2023: https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2023/07/13/cms -administrator -brooks -lasure -letter -
to-payors -regarding -coverage -covid -19-vaccines -post -commercialization.html
People with Medicare and Medicaid will also have
access to COVID -19 vaccines at no cost
▪COVID -19 vaccines covered under Medicare Part B without cost -sharing
▪Inflation Reduction Act, passed in August 2022, includes key provisions:
–Eliminates cost -sharing for all ACIP -recommended vaccines under
Medicaid and Medicare Part D/equivalent plans
–Guarantees that nearly 50 million Medicare beneficiaries and more than
80 million Medicaid beneficiaries will have access to all vaccines
recommended by ACIP without cost -sharing
Children 0 through 18 years of age who meet
at least one of the criteria:
•Medicaid eligible
•Uninsured, or
•American Indian/Alaska Native, or
•Underinsured*VFC Program Eligibility
* Eligible to receive vaccine only through an enrolled Federally Qualified Health
Center (FQHC), Rural Health Center (RHC) or a deputized provider under
Delegation of Authority
•Approximately 50% of US children
•>$4 billion program
•CDC distributes more than 75M doses of pediatric
vaccine each year, the vast majority of which is
purchased through VFC.
•Nearly 38,000 VFC provider locations across 61
VFC awardee jurisdictionsVFC Program Reach
The VFC program has reduced racial, ethnic, and
economic disparities in infant immunization in the US