With the U.S. COVID-19 public health emergency coming to an end, along with the government subsidization of COVID-19 vaccines, many physicians and patients are left wondering about the future of COVID-19 vaccinations.
Beginning this fall, the federal stockpile of free COVID-19 vaccines is expected to run out, according to a May 22 report from CNBC. Moderna and Pfizer are expected to begin selling their shots directly to healthcare providers at between $110 and $130 per dose.
Both companies are reportedly working on the development of an annual COVID-19 vaccine, akin to a yearly flu shot, instead of continuous booster shots throughout the year.
A panel of FDA advisers is expected to meet in June to select which COVID-19 strain new vaccines should target as they roll out in the fall.
Moderna and Pfizer believe that their messenger RNA technology will allow them to keep up with any new strains.
Moderna is also working on a COVID-19 vaccine that is easier to store. Currently, the vaccine must be frozen, and once thawed, it has a 30-day refrigerator life. The company hopes to create a more "refrigerator stable" shot.
Pfizer and Moderna are both working on "combination vaccines," which will protect against COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases in a single dose. Both drugmakers are developing a flu and COVID-19 shot, and Moderna is also developing a "triple combination" shot that also targets respiratory syncytial virus.