Submit public comment to the CDC: All people need access to updated COVID vaccines at least twice a year
The CDC is accepting public comment for their next vaccine committee meeting through February 22. Let them know that all of us need access to COVID vaccines at least twice a year.
Make your voice heard and ask the CDC to:
Recommend updated COVID vaccines for all ages AND
Strengthen our vaccine drive by recommending more frequent boosting (at least every six months) and more frequent updates to the vaccines, adjusted for the latest variants.
Submit a public comment using our sample language below.
You can also register to give Oral Public Comment at the upcoming February 28-29 online CDC ACIP Meeting at: https://www2.cdc.gov/vaccines/acip/acip_publiccomment.asp
Submitted written comments or registration to make oral comment at the meeting must be received by the CDC no later than February 22, 2024 at 11:59pm Eastern Standard Time.
It’s important to submit a personalized comment, which could include how lack of vaccine access has impacted or would impact you or how out-of-pocket costs are a barrier in your family or community. Feel free to take inspiration from or borrow the language in our sample public comment below.
Docket No. CDC–2024–0001
Scientific evidence indicates updated vaccines should ideally be allowed, available, and fully covered by public funds and/or insurance, for people of all ages at least every six months.
The vaccine schedule should address waning efficacy in the months following vaccination [1-3] as well as emergence of new variants. The CDC’s decision will affect everything about the current and future vaccine approach including what healthcare providers recommend, what health insurance covers, and what the public decides is needed.
Restricting vaccinations to only annual updates misses an opportunity, given that there is the potential to update the vaccines to better match perpetually emerging variants. Updates to all vaccine types are needed, and mRNA vaccines are particularly suited to frequent updates.
The recommendation for only annual vaccination also creates barriers for vulnerable people and discourages high risk people from getting needed vaccine boosters.
The CDC must ensure equitable and affordable access to updated vaccines and prevent limited access because of financial constraints or demographics by expanding and indefinitely extending the COVID Vaccine Bridge Access Program [4].
References:
1. Link-Gelles R. COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness updates. Presented at: FDA VRBPAC Meeting; June 15, 2023. Accessed February 9, 2024. https://www.fda.gov/media/169536/download2. Wu N, Joyal-Desmarais K, Vieira AM, et al. COVID-19 boosters versus primary series: update to a living review. The Lancet Respiratory Medicine. 2023;11(10):e87-e88. doi:10.1016/S2213-2600(23)00265-5
3. Menegale F, Manica M, Zardini A, et al. Evaluation of Waning of SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine–Induced Immunity: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA Netw Open. 2023;6(5):e2310650. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.10650
4. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/bridge/index.html
Full instructions for public comment and meeting information can be found at: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/acip/meetings/index.html
CDC’s ACIP Meeting on the Federal Register: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/01/16/2024-00674/advisory-committee-on-immunization-practices
Vaccination with the latest updated vaccines continues to be foundational to a multilayered approach to COVID, providing protection against both acute disease and Long COVID. In a failure of the “simplified” annual vaccine approach, far too few Americans have received the latest vaccines. Only approximately 1 in 5 adults and 1 in 10 children have received the latest 2023-2024 vaccines (as of February 1, 2024), which have been available since fall 2023.
This spring, even those who received the updated vaccines in fall 2023 may not have adequate protection under the annual vaccine strategy, as vaccine efficacy wanes significantly four to six months following vaccination. Per the CDC’s recommendations, only immunocompromised adults are eligible for COVID vaccines more frequently than once a year. The eligibility criteria are too restrictive, putting all of us at risk and leaving those at high risk of severe consequences of COVID infection confused about whether they qualify to receive additional doses. A more frequent vaccination approach and frequent updates to match current variants is needed to better protect all of us amid year-round COVID spread.
The CDC’s Bridge Access Program, which provides COVID vaccines to uninsured and underinsured adults free of charge, is due to end December 31, 2024. It is important to let public health officials know that the end of this program will unnecessarily put vulnerable people at risk.
You can register to give Oral Public Comment at the upcoming February 28-29 online CDC ACIP Meeting at: https://www2.cdc.gov/vaccines/acip/acip_publiccomment.asp
You must register by February 22. Submitted written comments or registration to make oral comment at the meeting must be received by the CDC no later than February 22, 2024 at 11:59pm Eastern Standard Time.