According to a Biden Administration official, the U.S. must limit access to the Covid next-generation vaccines to those most at risk of contracting the disease if Congress does not approve funds for the purchase of the shots.

According to the official who spoke under anonymity, the U.S. will see a large increase in Covid infection this fall due to waning immunity and the mutation of the omicron subvariant into more transmissible variants. Official said that the United States needs to raise money for future-generation vaccines as well as therapeutics and tests in order prevent infection from leading to hospitalizations and death.

Pfizer ModernaWe are currently developing new vaccines which target the mutations of the omicron variant to increase our protection against infection. The shots currently being developed are still aimed at the original 2019 strain of the virus. Although the effectiveness of the vaccines for mild illnesses has declined over the last two years as the virus evolved, they are still effective in protecting against severe diseases.

Food and Drug Administration will make an announcement by the end of the summer on whether or not the United States should move to the new shots in fall vaccine campaigns. The advisory committee is scheduled to meet on June 28th to address the matter.

According to the official, however, there is not enough money in the U.S. at the moment to pay for the new shots. Despite the fact that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senator Mitt Romney (R-Utah), struck a deal in April, the U.S. Senate failed to approve $10 billion more Covid funding for vaccines. The Senate’s $10 billion deal was less than the $22.5 million White House requested.

According to the official, “We’ll have the opportunity to receive some vaccines of this new generation. But it’ll only be available for high-risk individuals and it won’t be accessible to everyone.” Covid is most dangerous to the elderly and individuals with weak immune systems.

According to the official, Congress should pass funding within the next few days to make sure that the contract negotiations between the federal government (and vaccine manufacturers) are completed by July. Republicans in the Senate are vowing to block funding until Title 42 is restored by the White House. This Title allowed America to refuse asylum seekers crossing the border during the Pandemic.

The short timeframe means that even if money is forthcoming, the ability of vaccine producers to produce sufficient shots in the fall will remain a question. CNBC’s Stephane Bancel, CEO of Moderna, said last week that it is difficult for any biotech company in order to produce tens or millions of doses for fall. If they do not start production and order supplies before July, this will be a major problem.

Bancel said that no manufacturer would be able “to be prepared in August for product delivery to the channel.” Meg Tirrell, CNBC’s Meg Tirrell asked Bancel. In April, the last U.S. contract for Covid vaccines and Moderna was terminated.

Albert Bourla, Pfizer’s CEO, said last week to CNBC that Pfizer will be ready for manufacturing of doses of its next generation vaccines as soon as the FDA gives it guidance.

According to an administration official, more funding is needed for testing in order for America’s fall readiness. He warned that American manufacturers have already shut down their production lines. According to the official, without funding the U.S. could not rely on other nations’ test factories, especially China.

The official stated that it would be difficult for Americans to survive the fall and winter if Congress does not fulfill its obligations and provides funding. We’ll do our best, but ultimately we will be held responsible.