Uninsured adults in the United States will soon lose a critical resource for accessing free COVID-19 immunizations. The Bridge Access Program, which connected uninsured persons to free COVID-19 vaccines, will stop in August 2023, just weeks before an improved vaccine is projected to be ready for the upcoming respiratory virus season.
Launch and Purpose of the Bridge Access Program
Launched in 2023 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Bridge Access Program aims to distribute COVID-19 immunizations to U.S. people with little or no health insurance. This campaign came at a key time when the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines changed from federal control to commercial markets, complicating access for many.
Initially, the federal government distributed free COVID-19 immunizations to anybody who required them, regardless of insurance status. However, as vaccinations went to the commercial sector, persons with health coverage could only acquire vaccines at places approved by their insurance plans or pay out of pocket.
Impact on Equity in Health
Raynard Washington, health director for Mecklenburg County in North Carolina, highlighted the equal distribution of immunizations earlier in the pandemic. “It wasn’t an issue of cost,” he stated, highlighting how everyone had access to the vaccine.
However, the termination of publicly sponsored access last fall left millions without insurance trying to be vaccinated. In 2022, around 26 million Americans, or 8% of the U.S. population, had no health insurance, according to the Peter G. Peterson Foundation. In Charlotte, North Carolina, more than one in 10 citizens lack health insurance.
Washington observed directly how the Bridge Access Program supplied vital immunizations to uninsured persons, preventing them from serious COVID-19 infections after the public health emergency ended. Despite the expansion of Medicaid in North Carolina last December, many folks still fall through the coverage gap.
Achievements and Challenges of the Bridge Access Program
Since its beginning in September, the Bridge Access Program has provided over 1.4 million COVID-19 vaccination doses, including to more than 812,000 uninsured persons. The campaign was designed after the Vaccines for Children program, which began in 1994 in response to a measles epidemic and has subsequently avoided millions of hospitalizations and illnesses.
However, in March, budget discussions resulted to $4.3 billion being withdrawn from the Department of Health and Human Services’ COVID supplementary funds, prematurely ending the Bridge Access Program. Originally due to expire in December, the initiative will now run out of money in August, just before a new vaccine is expected.
Searching for Solutions
State and local public health authorities are researching strategies to fill the void left by the Bridge Access Program. These departments, already underfunded before the epidemic, now have significantly fewer resources with the cessation of COVID-related payments.
“We don’t have adequate resources locally to purchase vaccines for all who are uninsured,” Washington added, highlighting the necessity for a shift toward universal vaccine access.
Federally qualified health centers and federal infrastructure grants from the Section 317 Immunization Program may assist lessen the gap. These funding are meant to increase vaccination access, safety, and effectiveness and can assist outreach activities, but they cannot cover all the demands.
The Path Forward
Chrissie Juliano, executive director of the Big Cities Health Coalition, underlined the necessity of creative methods to ensure vaccines reach people who need them most. “We need to think creatively, and we need to bring vaccines or other preventive services to the people who need them the most,” she said.
As the Bridge Access Program draws to an end, the problem remains to give important immunizations to uninsured persons. Ensuring equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines requires new ways and sustained assistance from public health institutions to safeguard vulnerable groups.
Conclusion
The looming closure of the Bridge Access Program emphasizes the continuous challenge to give free COVID-19 immunizations to uninsured persons. While the program has achieved great advances in preserving public health, the loss of financing emphasizes the need for permanent, universal vaccine access alternatives. Public health authorities and legislators must work together to bridge the gap and guarantee that all persons, regardless of insurance status, can receive the protection they need against COVID-19.