Pfizer Inc. and Moderna Inc. will raise the prices of their COVID-19 vaccines by 25% under new contracts with the U.S. government, as the country prepares for a potential surge in cases this fall and winter.
According to a report by the Washington Post, the Biden administration has agreed to pay $30.50 per dose for Pfizer’s vaccine and $26.50 per dose for Moderna’s vaccine, up from $24 and $21.50, respectively, under previous contracts.
The price increases are due to several factors, including the rising costs of manufacturing and distributing the vaccines, as well as the need to invest in research and development for new variants of the virus.
The Biden administration has also announced that it will purchase an additional 105 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine, bringing the total number of doses ordered to 500 million. The government has also secured an option to purchase an additional 200 million doses if needed.
The price increases and additional purchases come as the U.S. prepares for a potential surge in COVID-19 cases this fall and winter. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has warned that the virus is likely to spread more easily as people spend more time indoors and close together.
The CDC is recommending that everyone over the age of 12 get vaccinated and boosted as soon as possible. The agency is also urging people to wear masks in crowded indoor spaces and to get tested if they have any symptoms of COVID-19.
The Biden administration has set a goal of getting 70% of the U.S. population fully vaccinated by the end of the year. As of August 2023, about 67% of the population is fully vaccinated.
The price increases for the COVID-19 vaccines have drawn criticism from some lawmakers and consumer advocates. They argue that the government should be negotiating lower prices with the pharmaceutical companies, especially given the large number of doses that have been purchased.
The pharmaceutical companies have defended the price increases, saying that they are necessary to cover the costs of manufacturing and distributing the vaccines, as well as to invest in research and development for new variants of the virus.
The price increases for the COVID-19 vaccines are likely to add to the financial burden on the U.S. government, which has already spent billions of dollars on the pandemic response. However, the government has said that it is committed to ensuring that everyone has access to the vaccines, regardless of their ability to pay.
The Biden administration has announced that it will provide free COVID-19 vaccines to all uninsured people. The government is also working with states and other partners to make sure that everyone has access to affordable vaccines.
The COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective, and they are the best way to protect yourself from the virus. If you have not yet been vaccinated, please get vaccinated as soon as possible.
You can find more information about the COVID-19 vaccines and where to get them at the CDC website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/index.html.
