COVID shots are no longer free for the uninsured
(Gray News) - The latest batch of COVID booster shots are out, tailored to better protect people from the Omicron variants, but be prepared to pay up if you don’t have health insurance.
The roughly 25 million Americans without health insurance will pay up to $200 for the shots because the federal program that covered the cost of the vaccines for uninsured and underinsured people ran out of funding.
The federal Bridge Access Program, which was set to end this December, expired early because of a move by Congress.
They rescinded $6.1 billion in COVID emergency spending as part of a deal to avoid a government shutdown.
Congress also blocked a Biden administration proposal that would provide free immunizations.
Moderna and Pfizer‘s new shots are formulated to better protect against the circulating Omicron variant KP.2.
Novavax vaccine shot boosters, formulated to target the Omicron variant JN.1 strain, were approved Friday by the Food and Drug Administration.
Novavax makes a protein-based vaccine mixed with an immune booster, a different technology than Pfizer and Moderna’s so-called mRNA vaccines, the Associated Press reported.
Pfizer and Moderna said free vaccines would be available through a patient assistance program, but it’s still unclear who would qualify for the free shots.
Private insurers, Medicare and Medicaid are still required to pay for COVID vaccines.
And vaccines for children are still covered through the Vaccines for Children Program.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone 6 months old or older get an updated COVID vaccine.
Copyright 2024 Gray Local Media, Inc. All rights reserved. CNN Newsource contributed to this report.
