Sept. 3, 2024 – A federal program that helped people get COVID-19 vaccines at no cost has ended. That means uninsured people may be asked to pay as much as $200 for the potentially life-saving shot.
The CDC recommends everyone ages 6 months and older get this season’s updated version of the vaccine, which is expected to become available later this month. The federal Vaccines for Children program will continue to cover COVID shots for eligible children.
The vaccines reduce the likelihood of severe illness that can lead to hospitalization or death and also can reduce the chance of having the potentially disabling symptoms of long COVID.
COVID remains a serious threat to people’s health, accounting for 2.2% of all U.S. deaths in the past year. Nationwide, levels remain very high as shown by emergency department visits, hospitalization rates, and wastewater surveillance.
COVID vaccination rates have plummeted since the early days of the pandemic. About 22% of adults have gotten a COVID shot within the past year, which is far fewer than the nearly 49% of adults who got a flu shot last season. When paid for out-of-pocket, flu shots can cost between $25 and $90. Both flu and COVID vaccines are now updated seasonally to target strains that are predicted to be widely circulating, and protection from the shots wanes over time.
People with private insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid still can get COVID shots under their insurance plans. The conclusion of the federal Bridge Access Program, though, means more than 25 million uninsured people may need to pay out of pocket. People are encouraged to check with their local health departments about options. In the Charlotte, NC, area, for example, county health officials are urging people to check to see if they may newly qualify for Medicaid coverage.
For people paying out of pocket, it’s a good idea to check around to see if different pharmacies or clinics may offer the same vaccines at varying prices. The FDA has approved COVID vaccines from three drugmakers for this coming 2024-2025 season: Moderna, Novavax, and Pfizer-BioNTech.
