Administration announces fall COVID-19 response strategy

The Biden Administration will make over 170 million doses of the bivalent COVID-19 vaccine booster available to Americans for free at pharmacies, doctor’s offices, health centers, and state and local health departments, the White House announced today. Americans can find local sites administering the vaccine booster here. Once pre-ordered doses are delivered, officials expect over 90% of Americans to have a site within five miles of where they live.

According to the Administration, the Federal Emergency Management Agency will continue to reimburse 90% of eligible costs to set up vaccination sites. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services plans to share information on the new boosters with Medicare enrollees in the coming weeks, and help nursing homes plan to vaccinate residents and staff. In addition, the Department of Health and Human Services will launch a paid media campaign and work with community groups to encourage vaccination.

Among other actions, the Administration plans to purchase 100 million additional at-home COVID-19 tests for the Strategic National Stockpile; add more test-to-treat sites; and eventually transition procurement and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, tests and treatments to the commercial market.