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Vaccine Inflation Reduction
About Vaccine Inflation Reduction
The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 included provisions affecting vaccine access. The act required Medicare Part D plans to cover ACIP recommended vaccines including shingles, Tdap, and hepatitis B at no cost sharing. Before the IRA, some Medicare beneficiaries faced substantial out of pocket costs for the shingles vaccine. Early analyses reported increased uptake of some adult vaccines after cost sharing was eliminated. The act also improved Medicaid coverage of vaccines. However, the adult immunization infrastructure in the US remains weaker than the pediatric system. The Vaccines for Children program provides free vaccines for eligible children but no equivalent exists for adults. Adult vaccination rates for shingles, pneumococcal, and influenza remain below targets. The IRA improvements demonstrate how policy changes affecting cost sharing can improve vaccine access. Whether similar reforms will be extended beyond Medicare remains to be seen.
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