As we bid farewell to summer and look to fall, ASPR is working hard to make sure that the American public has access to the best protection available against COVID-19. Yesterday, following the FDA's emergency use authorization of the updated Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines for use as a booster dose, ASPR – working in close coordination with our partners at CDC – began distributing millions of doses of the updated booster to tens of thousands of sites nationwide.

Pending the CDC's recommendation, people will soon be able to receive – at no charge – their updated COVID-19 booster shot containing an Omicron component. These boosters will be available at tens of thousands of vaccination sites they've used previously, including local pharmacies, their physicians' offices, and vaccine centers operated by state and local health officials. 

HHS made over 20 million doses of the updated COVID-19 booster vaccine available for pre-ordering prior to FDA authorization to enable jurisdictions, pharmacy partners, and federal entities to make sophisticated distribution and administration plans. Throughout August, the team coordinated by H-CORE has been working with these partners to place their initial orders for the updated COVID-19 vaccine. These partners are on the frontlines and critical to success. All 50 states and the District of Columbia have pre-ordered doses and, pending CDC recommendation, sites will begin administering updated booster doses in earnest to eligible people shortly after Labor Day.

The operational launch is only the beginning of our fall vaccination campaign. HHS has procured over 170 million doses of the updated COVID-19 booster. H-CORE along with our partners will do our part to make sure this lifesaving tool is available and accessible, whenever and wherever Americans choose to roll up their sleeves.