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Pfizer is raising the “commercial list price” for itscoronavirusvaccines.
The pharmaceutical company said Friday that the drugwill cost between $110 to $130 per doseonce its government contract ends, according to the Associated Press, though many will continue to receive the shot for free.
New prices could go into effect as soon as early 2023, depending on when the government phases out its own distribution program, the outlet said.
Angela Lukin, Pfizer’s global primary care & U.S. president, explained that increased prices are due to the costs of switching from multi-dose to single-dose vials and commercial distribution. Lukin added that the new prices are still below the level of “what would be considered a highly effective vaccine,” per the AP.
Since the Affordable Care Act requires insurers to cover the costs of most recommended vaccines without charging out-of-pocket, many will pay little to nothing. People with coverage through private insurance or public programs like Medicare and Medicaid will also likely pay nothing.
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Pfizer also has an income-based assistance program to help uninsured people in the U.S. receive a vaccination.
The new estimated list price for Pfizer’s COVID vaccine is comparable to that of other adult vaccines, such as hepatitis and shingles, whichcan range from around $64 to $171, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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As information about thecoronavirus pandemicrapidly changes, PEOPLE is committed to providing the most recent data in our coverage. Some of the information in this story may have changed after publication. For the latest on COVID-19, readers are encouraged to use online resources from theCDC,WHOandlocal public health departments.
source: people.com
