The companies behind the three leading COVID-19 vaccines in the United States have announced prices for their updated shots.

Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna will be charging between $120 and $130 per dose, while Novavax will cost approximately $72.50 per dose.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the updated vaccines on Monday. They are designed to target the omicron XBB.1.5 strain of the virus, which is currently the dominant variant in the United States.

The Biden administration has said that it will begin the commercialization of COVID-19 vaccine doses in July, meaning that they will be sold on the open market rather than being purchased and distributed by the government.

However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is administering the Bridge Access Program for COVID-19 vaccine doses, which will provide free doses to uninsured people and those whose insurance does not cover the cost of the shots.

The CDC has said that it is working with pharmacies to ensure that everyone has access to the updated vaccines, regardless of their ability to pay.

“Vaccination is especially important as we head into fall and winter, a time when COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases are likely to circulate,” said CDC Director Mandy Cohen. “We know that vaccines save money and lives.”

The FDA said in its approval announcement that the updated vaccines are “a good match for protecting against the currently circulating COVID-19 variants.”

Representatives at the CDC advisory meeting on Tuesday indicated that various strains of omicron XBB are still dominant among the circulating SARS-CoV-2 viruses, despite concerns regarding BA 2.86.

The updated vaccines are expected to be available in the United States in the coming weeks.

Source: With Agencies