The FDA recently approved new Covid vaccines for Americans, leading to growing confusion regarding the specifics of these vaccines, including their protection levels and insurance coverage. In this article, we will answer some common questions about the updated Covid vaccines to help clarify the situation for the general public.
As of now, there are three new updated Covid vaccines that have been approved. The first is a Moderna vaccine, which is available for individuals aged six months and older. The second is a Pfizer vaccine, which is approved for those five years of age and older. Lastly, the Novavax vaccine is available for individuals aged 12 years and older.
The updated vaccines are designed to target the JN.1 lineage of Covid-19, specifically utilizing the LP.8.1 strain. This lineage is a descendant of the Omicron variant. According to data from WastewaterSCAN, the dominant strain currently causing most infections in the United States is the XFG variant, also known as the “stratus” variant. Since the XFG is closely related to the LP.8.1 strain, the newly updated Covid vaccines are expected to be effective in preventing severe illness, hospitalization, and death associated with this dominant variant, as stated by the World Health Organization.
Traditionally, anyone aged six months and older could receive Covid shots. However, recent FDA guidelines have restricted eligibility to individuals aged 65 and older, as well as younger individuals (six months and older) with underlying conditions that increase their risk for severe Covid infection. Those eligible will be able to receive the vaccine at various healthcare clinics and pharmacies, with many insurance plans expected to cover the cost.
For those under 65 years of age, having at least one medical condition that qualifies for high risk is necessary to receive the updated Covid vaccine. While it is not entirely clear which conditions qualify, the CDC identified 22 conditions in February that include obesity, depression, diabetes, asthma, and cancer. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices is set to meet on September 18th to possibly update these qualifications. Additionally, while pregnancy was previously included as a qualifying condition, Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has stated that healthy pregnant individuals would not qualify for the Covid vaccine. Further clarifications are anticipated later this month.
If you are a healthy young adult or child without any underlying conditions that increase your risk, it is theoretically possible to obtain a Covid shot. However, significant barriers may exist. Most adults would need a prescription from their doctor to get the vaccine at a pharmacy or health clinic. For children, Secretary Kennedy now mandates shared decision-making between parents and physicians, making it necessary to have a discussion to obtain a prescription for the Covid vaccine.
Moreover, some Americans may face challenges in securing a primary care doctor, which could hinder their ability to obtain a prescription for the vaccine. Even if they manage to get a prescription, the cost of the Covid vaccine—approximately $150—might deter individuals from proceeding, particularly for the over 27 million Americans who are uninsured, according to the CDC. Lastly, some physicians may be hesitant to prescribe the Covid vaccine “off-label,” as it has not been officially recommended or approved by the FDA for certain population subsets.
