COVID-19 Vaccine
Updated January 27, 2021
The AAFP is monitoring development, approval and distribution.
To date, no COVID-19 vaccine candidates have been approved (licensed) by the FDA. The FDA issued emergency use authorizations, and CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommended two mRNA vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna. The AAFP reviewed and approved these interim recommendations. As ACIP releases other vaccine recommendations, the AAFP will review and determine approval for each vaccine. The AAFP was updated in real time as these meetings and decisions occurred, and will stay engaged for subsequent vaccines.
View the CDC's Interim Clinical Considerations for information on the different vaccines, including clinical considerations, preparation and storage.
- Concerned about vaccine adverse events? Read the AAFP article, Report Finds Low Adverse Event Rate From COVID-19 Vaccine, to learn about CDC updates to guidance and management of anaphylaxis.
- Need an easy resource to support conversations with your staff? Borrow slides from the AAFP's sample COVID-19 PowerPoint presentation, or use the whole deck, to provide your team with helpful information on COVID-19 and the vaccines.
- Thinking about what patients will ask? The AAFP's COVID-19 Vaccine FAQs and COVID-19 Vaccine Myths can help you answer their questions, from how mRNA vaccines work to side effects to availability. Find more education resources below.
Distribution Plans and Issues
The CDC and other federal agencies are working to distribute vaccine doses to states and jurisdictions. At this time, limited vaccine quantities are available, so priority is being given for certain populations, such as frontline health care workers and those at greatest risk of morbidity and mortality from COVID-19.
The ACIP issued recommendations to guide prioritization for initial allocations of the vaccine, as supply is limited. Healthcare workers and residents in long-term care facilities were prioritized for phase 1a of vaccine distribution. Phase 1b includes persons aged 75 and older and frontline essential workers. Phase 1c includes individuals aged 65-74, persons aged 16-64 with high-risk medical conditions, and other essential workers not captured in phase 1b.
- A list of state-by-state distribution plans, and a map from the National Academy of State Health Policy, is available on the COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution page.
- The CDC's COVID-19 Data Tracker is also tracking the number of vaccines distributed and administered by state.
Interested in how we're advocating on vaccine distribution issues? The AAFP is working to ensure that family physicians are prioritized in federal and state vaccine strategies. Learn more about these efforts on our Vaccines and Immunizations Advocacy Hub.
FDA Approval Process
The FDA released guidance for manufacturers to request approval for EUA of a COVID-19 vaccine. The standards for EUA for the vaccine will be stricter than those for other products and vaccine candidates must meet prespecified efficacy and safety data with at least two months of follow up. Additionally, under an EUA, the FDA will continue to collect safety and efficacy data as the vaccine is made available to the public. All data will be reviewed by experts in vaccinology and the CDC’s Advisory Committee in Immunization Practices.
Find a list of other vaccine candidates and phase of development in a World Health Organization report.
AAFP member, Jennifer Middleton, MD, MPH, also wrote a blog on what's ahead with additional vaccines in "Here come the COVID vaccines".
Coding and Payment
The American Medical Association published the first set of COVID-19 vaccine and administration codes. Their unique structure allows for tracking and accommodating multiple COVID-19 vaccines.
- First COVID-19 Vaccine CPT Codes Published
- More new CPT codes approved for COVID-19 vaccines
- COVID-19 Vaccine Coverage Requirements and Preliminary Payment Guidance: information on coverage for vaccine administration and related services.
CDC's COVID-19 Vaccine Resources
Check out information on the CDC's COVID-19 site, including:
- COVID-19 Vaccination Communication Toolkit for Medical Centers, Clinics, and Clinicians
- COVID-19 Vaccine Training Module
- COVID-19 Vaccine Facts
- Understanding mRNA Vaccines
- CDC Process for Vaccine Recommendations
Expect updates to this site, plus CDC’s Vaccination and Immunization site, as more information is available. It's critical that jurisdictions and federal entities receiving vaccine have information to implement an effective COVID-19 vaccination program.