Promoting better access to immunization: US policy trends and implications for vaccines

Immunization is a core component of public health policy and represents a low-cost preventive option against diseases with enormous health and cost burden. Our experts discuss how recent US policy changes, most notably the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), have expanded patient access to immunization.  

In recent years, major policies enacted by the US government have promoted immunization access. Measures include broadening vaccine coverage by government payers and bolstering vaccine administration at the pharmacy level. These policies have impacted multiple pillars of the US healthcare system, including:  

• Medicare: The IRA broadened vaccine coverage without patient copay to include all ACIP-recommended routine and non-routine vaccines. This includes those falling under…