How to get a COVID booster in Ohio this fall
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Many Americans are confused about whether they'll be able to get a COVID booster this fall — at least for now, they're still available without a prescription at Ohio pharmacies.
Yes, but: If you're under age 65, some may require you to disclose a "high-risk" condition to get one.
State of play: This will be the first respiratory virus season without widespread COVID recommendations since the vaccines were introduced for general use, after the FDA majorly curtailed eligibility.
- The move has led pharmacies to require prescriptions in some states, though officials in Colorado and Pennsylvania have since passed their own rules to change that.
Friction point: Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and other vaccine skeptics have cast doubts on COVID shots' safety.
- But experts say they're safe and effective, especially for those at risk of serious illness from the virus.
- Several medical groups are still broadly recommending them.
🤷♀️ Alissa's thought bubble: I tried to book CVS and Walgreens appointments Friday and was required to list a condition, but Kroger still let me schedule without one. Clear as mud.
What's next: Kennedy's hand-picked CDC vaccine advisory panel is expected to weigh in next week with its recommendations, which could impact insurance coverage and patient costs.