AIM Statement in Support of HHS Bridge Access Program For COVID-19 Vaccines and Treatments to Maintain Access to COVID-19 Care for the Uninsured

Claire Hannan, MPH, Executive Director of the Association of Immunization Managers, released this statement today:

“The Association of Immunization Managers (AIM) is deeply appreciative of the Biden Administration’s Bridge Access Program For COVID-19 Vaccines and Treatments to Maintain Access to COVID-19 Care for the Uninsured. This program will be critical to assure no one is left behind as we enter the next phase in our fight to prevent severe disease, hospitalizations, and death from COVID. We can’t lose ground in our efforts to achieve vaccine equity, including rural communities where uninsured rates are consistently higher than metro areas. We look forward to working with the Administration on implementation.

While 90% of Americans now have coverage for all recommended vaccines with no out-of-pocket costs, this program will serve the 30 million Americans who have no insurance and therefore no affordable access to life saving vaccines.

Because this program creates only a temporary bridge to ensure access to COVID vaccines, we join in the call for Congress to pass a bi-partisan Vaccines for Adults Program that will ensure access to all recommended adult vaccines for those without insurance. The recent pandemic vividly illustrates that a virus anywhere in the world may be just one plane ride away. Having a program to distribute vaccines to adults is therefore both an immediate tool to fight COVID and an investment in our preparedness for the next public health emergency.

AIM applauds the creation of this bridge program and urges Congress to act now to make it permanent.”