US EditionWhy getting a COVID-19 vaccine is likely to be more complicated this year
New federal guidelines and insurance uncertainties have caused confusion over COVID-19 vaccine eligibility and coverage this fall, with some insurers continuing full coverage, experts say.
- Federal regulators this season approved new COVID-19 shots from Pfizer, Moderna and Novavax, limiting use to people 65 and older and younger people with health conditions, complicating the seasonal vaccine process.
- Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s actions earlier this year disrupted COVID-19 vaccine guidance by firing the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and reversing recommendations for children and pregnant women.
- Employers and insurers have historically covered the shots, but some may continue selectively; Walmart and Kaiser Permanente will maintain coverage, though uninsured patients could pay $150 or more.
- Conflicting advice has left patients asking which guidance to follow, while some pharmacists may hesitate to vaccinate outside FDA-approved ranges, complicating access amid 19 states' restrictions.
- Doctors note that population immunity is high but wanes, so this fall many patients still consider an annual shot to prepare for a possible winter surge despite varying access.
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What to Know About Getting the COVID-19 Vaccine Right Now
As COVID-19 continues to circulate, questions remain about how to protect yourself in 2025. Should you get the COVID-19 vaccine? Will the shots be available at your local pharmacy? Will insurance cover it? The answers are complicated. The confusion stems from shifting federal vaccine recommendations, clashing guidance from medical groups, and the uncertainty of how doctors, pharmacies, insurance companies, and everyday people will navigate it al…
·United States
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Total News Sources65
Leaning Left12Leaning Right5Center37Last UpdatedBias Distribution69% Center
Bias Distribution
- 69% of the sources are Center
69% Center
L 22%
C 69%
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