Washington, D.C. — Today, the Center for American Progress released a new report on COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing, financing, and ethical distribution. The report summarizes the current leading trials and manufacturing capacity, lays out a powerful indictment of the Trump administration’s current efforts, and offers a detailed plan for what the federal government should be doing right now to safely facilitate production as fast as possible and save thousands of lives.
The report is sweeping in its scope—informed by all publicly available information and conversations with vaccine manufacturers, manufacturers of vaccine supplies, pharmacies, distributors, and other experts.
Key recommendations in the report include:
- Coordinate and expand U.S. manufacturing capacity by conducting a transparent assessment of the nation’s fill-finish, private sector, and state-supported manufacturing capacities; spending $400 million to retrofit existing facilities; appropriating $1.4 billion to establish a public-private partnership to build new manufacturing capacity; invoking the Defense Production Act to coordinate U.S. manufacturing capacity.
- Assess and expand manufacturing capacity for vaccine supplies, including the capacity to manufacture glass vials and suitable alternatives, syringes and needles, and other supplies and raw materials.
- Publicly finance the bulk purchase of one or more COVID-19 vaccines to maximize vaccination rates; overcome insurance coverage gaps; minimize or eliminate drug company profiteering; and maximize coordination of U.S. manufacturing capacities.
- Ensure efficient and equitable distribution by establishing distribution targeting criteria; leveraging the CDC’s centralized distribution for publicly financed vaccines; establishing community vaccination clinics; launching an unprecedented vaccination advertising campaign; and cooperating with international organizations and investing in global production.
- Establish governing and accountability mechanisms for vaccine manufacturing and distribution.
“Widespread vaccination faces many challenges and could take many months. The manufacturing, financing, and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines is the greatest logistical challenge facing the U.S. government in generations. It requires a massive, unprecedented undertaking by a strong and competent federal government. This report lays out a clear roadmap for the federal government to scale and coordinate manufacturing, boost purchasing efficiency, and ensure the distribution of a vaccine saves as many lives as possible,” said Topher Spiro, vice president of Health Policy at CAP.
Please click here to read A Comprehensive COVID-19 Vaccine Plan by Topher Spiro and Zeke Emanuel.
For more information or to speak with an expert, please contact Colin Seeberger at [email protected] or 202.741.6292.
To find the latest CAP resources on the coronavirus, visit our coronavirus resource page.