Getting a COVID vaccine in Philly could be more complicated this fall
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New federal limits around COVID-19 vaccine eligibility are stirring confusion about whether people will be able to get shots this fall.
Why it matters: Philadelphians who want the vaccine will need a doctor's approval — often tied to underlying health conditions — and many could end up paying out of pocket.
Driving the news: Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced a series of moves last week that will limit who is eligible for COVID vaccines as the stratus variant spreads across the country.
- Meanwhile, the changes have brought new uncertainty about accessing the shots at pharmacies — including CVS and Walgreens.
Zoom in: The FDA rescinded general emergency use authorizations for Pfizer and Moderna mRNA shots, according to Kennedy.
- Boosters for high-risk patients were approved, though.
- And patients who want COVID shots will need to consult with their doctor rather than booking directly with a pharmacy.
Who is eligible: Adults 65 and older are eligible for an updated Pfizer-BioNTech COVID vaccine, as well as new shots from Moderna and Novavax.
- Anyone between 5 and 64 is eligible if they have at least one underlying health condition — including asthma, cancer, kidney disease, heart conditions, HIV, certain mental health conditions, physical inactivity and smoking.
- For children: The new FDA policy doesn't approve the Pfizer vaccine for healthy children under age 5, leaving it open to a doctor's discretion to prescribe off-label shots.
- Yes, but: For kids 6 months old and up with underlying health conditions, the FDA has given approval for the Moderna vaccine.
Reality check: Many health experts argue that shots are still important for the general public, which remains at risk for severe outcomes as well as long COVID.
Zoom out: Individuals who aren't part of the recommended groups may not be covered by insurance and forced to pay for the shot, which can cost around $140.
- That could especially strain the more than 665,000 Philadelphians on Medicaid — that's around 42% of the city's population, per state data.
What else: A CVS spokesperson tells Axios that COVID-19 vaccines are available at its pharmacies in Pennsylvania, but patients must present an authorized prescription for the shot.
- Yes, but: Patients don't need a prescription for a COVID shot at MinuteClinics found inside select CVS stores, which will offer the vaccines as soon as they are available.
Worth noting: Following Kennedy's announcement last week, CVS changed its COVID shot accessibility to offer the vaccines in 34 states, only with prescriber authorization in 13 others (including Pennsylvania), and completely barring access in three.
By the numbers: Across Pennsylvania and the nation, COVID rates are low but increasing, per the latest CDC data.
- COVID hospital admissions in Philly have hovered at 10 or below since May, with only one reported during the first week of August, according to the city's most recent data.
What we're watching: The CDC is expected to weigh in soon with its recommendations, which can impact whether insurers will pay for vaccines or whether patients will need to pay out of pocket for them.
- Jim Kyle, a spokesperson for the city's Department of Public Health, tells Axios the city has not received any guidance from the CDC on changes for Medicaid coverage related to COVID shots.