September 3, 2024 – A federal program that helped people get free COVID-19 vaccines has ended, meaning uninsured people could have to pay as much as $200 for the possibly life-saving shot.
The CDC recommends that everybody 6 months of age and older receive the newest version of the vaccine, which is anticipated to be available later this month. Vaccines for children The program will proceed to cover COVID vaccinations for eligible children.
The vaccines reduce the prospect of developing severe illness that may result in hospitalization or death, and may additionally reduce the prospect of developing the possibly disabling symptoms of Long COVID.
COVID stays a serious threat to human health and was liable for 2.2% of all deaths within the United States last 12 months. Nationwide, the degrees remain very high as shown by emergency room visits, hospital admission rates, and wastewater monitoring.
COVID vaccination rates have dropped sharply because the early days of the pandemic. 22% of adults have received a COVID vaccination prior to now 12 months, which is way fewer than the nearly 49% of adults who received a flu shot last season. If paid for out of pocket, Flu vaccinations can cost between $25 and $90. Both flu and COVID vaccines are actually updated seasonally to focus on strains expected to be widespread, and protection from the shots wanes over time.
People with private medical health insurance, Medicare or Medicaid can still get COVID vaccinations under their insurance coverage. However, the completion of the federal Bridge Access Program means greater than 25 million people without health insurance can have to pay out of their very own pocket. People are encouraged to contact their local health authorities about options. In the Charlotte, North Carolina, area, for instance, county health officials are urging people to ascertain whether or not they could be newly eligible for Medicaid coverage.
For people paying out of pocket, it’s idea to ascertain to see if different pharmacies or clinics offer the identical vaccines at different prices. The FDA has approved COVID vaccines from three drugmakers for the upcoming 2024-2025 season: Moderna, Novavax and Pfizer-BioNTech.