What the US and 4 Other Countries Are Spending on a Vaccine Rollout Gabrielle Olya April 30, 2021, 4:00 AM Several countries, including the United States, are providing free COVID-19 vaccines to their residents — which means federal and state governments are covering the enormous costs to make this possible. Read: In the U.S., the federal government is covering the costs of the actual vaccines, along with syringes, needles, face masks and shields, The Wall Street Journal reported. With hundreds of millions of people to provide vaccines for, this comes with a huge price tag. Washington DC, USA at the tidal basin with Washington Monument in spring season.