The Biden administration is planning to launch a new COVID-19 vaccine this fall, with President Biden expressing his intention to recommend that all Americans, including children, receive an updated booster shot. Despite earlier declarations that COVID-19 was no longer a threat, the administration is preparing for another round of vaccinations in response to new variants.
President Biden has also indicated that he will request additional funding from Congress to develop this new vaccine. He stated, “I signed off this morning on a proposal we have to present to Congress a request for additional funding for a new vaccine that is necessary, that works.” The vaccines, developed by Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax, have been updated to target the dominant XBB variants.
The rollout of the new jab is expected to commence in mid-September. Earlier this month, the administration requested $40 million from Congress for various causes, including aid for Ukraine and efforts to curb the flow of fentanyl into the United States. However, this request did not include any funds specifically for COVID-19 vaccines.
The White House has previously used $1.4 billion of taxpayer money to develop new drugs and shots against the virus. In 2022, the Biden administration requested $9.25 billion to combat the spread of COVID, but this request was denied by congressional lawmakers.
The reintroduction of mask mandates by entities such as Hollywood studio Lionsgate and several universities has sparked renewed debate about strategies to combat the virus. Amid this, CNN has quoted experts advising people to use N95 masks again due to a recent uptick in the virus.
