The government needs to contract with COVID vaccine makers by the end of the month in order to have enough boosters for Americans this fall, but it can't proceed until Congress approves more money, according to two Biden officials.
The U.S. government needs to contract with coronavirus vaccine makers by the end of the month in order to have enough booster shots for most Americans this fall but can't proceed until Congress approves more money, according to two senior Biden administration officials.The debate over another round of booster shots is already heating up, and some experts are skeptical that they'll even be needed soon.
"Our gap in resources is even more severe if we need a variant-specific vaccine," an official added on the press call.Falling behind on booster shots is one of many consequences the administration has warned of if it doesn't get more COVID relief money soon. A $22.5 billion requestRunning out of treatments could be problematic sooner, especially if the U.S. is about to experience another wave of cases.
"It would be important to have a contract in place with the U.S. government by the end of this month or soon thereafter to ensure that Americans have access to boosters in the fall, should they become necessary and if approved by regulators," said a source close to one of the mRNA vaccine makers.The timing becomes especially urgent if it turns out that an Omicron-specific booster is necessary this fall, because there will be higher demand for it and the U.S.
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