Jurisdiction-level costs of the initial phase of the COVID-19 vaccination program in the United States, December 20, 2020-May 31, 2021

Abstract

This study aimed to quantify U.S. jurisdiction-level costs related to the COVID-19 Vaccination Program by estimating the per-dose-administered cost during December 20, 2020-May 31, 2021, from a combined federal and local government perspective. Costs were limited to vaccine purchase, administration (including operations and wastage), and local redistribution by jurisdictions. Data were collected through publicly available sources, published literature, and a survey of 62 jurisdictions (38 responded). A total of 284.6 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine were distributed to jurisdictions during the study period, of which 284.2 million doses were administered, and 0.4 million doses were wasted. The estimated cost per-dose-administered among the 38 jurisdictions that responded to study survey was $57.45 and imputed cost across all jurisdictions was $63.11. The findings on jurisdiction-level cost per-dose-administered and vaccination cost during the initial period of U.S. COVID-19 Vaccination Program, when demand exceeded supply, may be considered in future pandemic preparedness planning.

Keywords: COVID-19; Jurisdictions; Public health; Vaccine costs.

Fig. 1.

COVID-19 vaccine distribution process in the United States, December 20, 2020–May 31, 2021. BARDA: Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority; HHS: Health and Human Services; IIS: Immunization Information System; VTrckS: Vaccine Tracking System. Costs associated with the orange arrows were included in this study. Costs associated with the blue arrows were not included in this study. Non-cost related data on vaccine dose shipment, administration, and wastage units along the blue and orange arrows are captured in this study. * VTrckS is CDC’s vaccine management and ordering system for publicly funded vaccines. ^ⴕ Awardees include 62 jurisdictions, 21 federal retail pharmacy partners, 2 renal dialysis partners, and federal entities (Indian Health Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, Department of Defense, Veterans Health Administration, Department of State, Bureau of Prisons). ^§ The IIS’s are computerized databases that record all immunization doses administered by participating providers to persons residing within a given geopolitical area. This figure was adapted from https://www.cdc.gov/flu/pdf/pandemic-resources/pandemic-influenza-vaccine-distribution-9p-508.pdf (Accessed on March 26, 2024).