Written by Kara Murez
A reporter for HealthDay
MONDAY, Oct. 24, 2022 (HealthDay News) — Some Americans may pay up to $130 to get Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine starting in 2023, but most will still get it for free.
A Pfizer executive noted that people who will receive the vaccine for free will likely include those who participate in public health insurance programs, such as Medicare or Medicaid, and those who have private health insurance, the Associated Press reported.
Recommended vaccines must be covered by insurers under the Affordable Care Act. Pfizer also has an income-based assistance program for eligible US residents.
The US government is expected to stop the purchase and distribution of the arrows next year, according to the AP.
While last year Pfizer said it was charging the U.S. government $19.50 per dose, that increased to about $30 per shot in June. The company said it has three tiers of pricing worldwide, depending on a country’s financial situation, AP reported.
The latest price reflects both the commercial costs of distribution and the switch to single-dose vials, Pfizer Chief Executive Angela Lukin said last week, according to the AP.
That’s well below the expected range “for what would be considered a highly effective vaccine,” Lukin added.
By comparison, annual flu shots range from $50 to $95, depending on the type, according to CVS Health, according to the AP.
Pfizer’s vaccine, which starts with two initial doses, is the most commonly used vaccine to prevent COVID-19 in the United States.
Americans have been vaccinated with 375 million doses of the original Pfizer vaccine since the end of 2020, as well as 41 million doses of the updated booster, CDC data show.
The company’s picture revenue was $36.8 billion last year and is expected to reach $32 billion this year, according to FactSet. Sales are expected to drop after that, AP reports.
