(July 28, 2023) – It is anticipated the commercialization of the COVID vaccines will occur in early fall, meaning it will be available for purchase on the commercial market and will be included in the Vaccines for Children Program, and the federal government COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Program will end. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment issued a Health Alert earlier this week notifying providers that as part of the VFC Provider Agreement, all VFC providers will be required to maintain a supply of COVID-19 vaccine for the entire patient population they serve.
In the KS-HAN, KDHE advised VFC providers that, as with other Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommended vaccines, VFC-participating practices will need to stock COVID-19 vaccines for both VFC/CHIP eligible children and privately insured patients once commercialization occurs. KDHE further advised the ordering mechanism for COVID-19 vaccines through KDHE will be shut off Aug. 3, 2023. After that time, KDHE will not be able to process any COVID-19 vaccine orders.
To prepare for this transition, KDHE has encouraged providers to place necessary COVID vaccine orders to get through August and September, prior to the Aug. 3 cutoff date. If a provider requires an additional supply of COVID-19 vaccine after the Aug. 3 cutoff, the Kansas Immunization Program will work with the provider to obtain a supply from another provider.
Once commercialization is in place, COVID-19 vaccine ordering will resume, and providers can order stock for VFC/CHIP-eligible children and uninsured adults through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Bridge Access Program. After commercialization, there will no longer be a separate COVID-19 Provider Program.
It is anticipated COVID vaccines will still be available at no cost for most Americans through their health insurance plans after commercialization. However, for adults without insurance or whose insurance will not provide free COVID vaccines after these products move onto the commercial market, a COVID vaccine bridge program has been created within the CDC. The CDC's Bridge Access Program will provide free COVID-19 vaccines for a limited time after these products move onto the commercial market in Fall 2023. Free vaccines through this temporary program will not be available after December 2024.
--Karen Braman