COVID-19 Vaccines No Longer Free Of Charge For People Without Insurance At Pharmacies

CNN (9/5, Howard) reports, “The rollout of updated Covid-19 vaccines has begun in the United States, but for the first time, the shots will no longer be free of charge for people without insurance at their local pharmacy.” In 2023, “as the shots transitioned to the commercial market, the” CDC’s “Bridge Access Program provided free Covid-19 vaccines to adults without insurance and those whose insurance didn’t cover all vaccine costs.” Last month, that program ended “due to lack of federal funding.” The majority of “people with private insurance, Medicare or Medicaid will still be able to get vaccinated at no out-of-pocket cost, but for adults without insurance or those whose insurance does not cover the vaccine, getting the updated shot at a pharmacy could cost $201.99.”