U.S. doesn't have funds to buy a 4th vaccine dose for everyone if needed, officials warn


The U.S. does not have enough funding to purchase a fourth COVID vaccine dose for every American should the shots be deemed necessary, The Washington Post reports Tuesday, per Biden administration officials.
Though the White House has enough doses to cover a fourth shot for Americans over age 65, as well as the initial recommended regimen for kids under 5, "officials say they cannot place advance orders for additional vaccine doses for those in other age groups, unless lawmakers pass a stalled $15 billion funding package," the Post writes.
"Right now, we don't have enough money for fourth doses, if they're called for," White House COVID response coordinator Jeff Zients told Andy Slavitt on an upcoming podcast episode, per the Post. "We don't have the funding, if we were to need a variant-specific vaccine in the future."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
It has yet to be determined whether a fourth dose will even be needed, but officials warned they'd need to move preemptively if that were the case, rather than wait until the time comes. For that to happen, the funding from Congress is required.
"Vaccines don't just appear when you snap your fingers and say, 'Okay, I want the vaccine.' We've got to make it," said one senior official.
"If their policy goal is to have enough doses available to provide a fourth dose to everyone," confirmed Jen Kates of the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation, "there are not enough doses purchased. They will run out of supply." She said the administration would need to purchase approximately 750 million more doses to cover all Americans.
Officials are also concerned vaccine manufacturers will prioritize orders already in the pipeline from other countries, thus delaying shipments to the U.S., per the Post. Read more at The Washington Post.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brigid Kennedy worked at The Week from 2021 to 2023 as a staff writer, junior editor and then story editor, with an interest in U.S. politics, the economy and the music industry.
-
Social Security: Insolvency date keeps getting closer
Feature A new report has projected that Social Security funds could be depleted by 2033
-
Are AI lovers replacing humans?
Talking Points A third of Gen Z singles use tech as a 'romantic companion'
-
What are the Trump Accounts for kids and how do they work?
The Explainer Parents will soon be able to open tax-advantaged investment accounts on their child's behalf
-
Trump attacks Obama as Epstein furor mounts
Speed Read The Trump administration accused the Obama administration of 'treasonous' behavior during the 2016 election
-
Trump administration releases MLK files
Speed Read Newly released documents on the 1968 assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. did not hold any new revelations, King historians said
-
Japan's prime minister feels pressure after election losses
Speed Read Shigeru Ishiba has vowed to remain in office
-
Trump officials who hold more than one job
IN THE SPOTLIGHT Wearing multiple hats has become the norm inside a White House known for a revolving door of functionaries and officials
-
President diagnosed with 'chronic venous insufficiency'
Speed Read The vein disorder has given Trump swollen ankles and visible bruising on his hands
-
'Bawdy' Trump letter supercharges Epstein scandal
Speed Read The Wall Street Journal published details of Trump's alleged birthday letter to Epstein
-
Fed chair Powell in Trump's firing line
Speed Read The president considers removing Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell
-
Trump trashes supporters over Epstein files
speed read The president lashed out on social media following criticism of his administration's Jeffrey Epstein investigation