Seattleites face new hurdles to get COVID shots
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The future of COVID vaccinations in the Seattle area is murky as new federal limits sow uncertainty over cost and eligibility.
Why it matters: Obtaining a COVID-19 vaccine shot may require some extra lifting this fall.
Driving the news: Providers don't yet have the 2025-26 vaccine supplies and local access hinges on federal recommendations due later this month, spokespeople with local health authorities tell Axios.
- State Department of Health spokesperson Raechel Sims says, however, that the state is still recommending COVID vaccination for everyone 6 months and older.
What's happening: Typically, the FDA approves COVID vaccines and a CDC advisory panel decides who should get them, according to Public Health — Seattle & King County.
- But last week, Kennedy announced new FDA limits on who is eligible for COVID vaccines even as the FDA issued approvals for updated boosters, Axios reported.
- The move strips pharmacists of blanket authority to dispense shots, meaning most people will need a prescription from their doctor.
- Seniors 65 and older remain broadly eligible, but healthy adults and youths will only qualify without a prescription if they have underlying conditions such as asthma, obesity, or depression.
The big picture: The CDC is reeling from leadership turmoil after director Susan Monarez was fired and senior immunization official Demetre Daskalakis resigned, accusing Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. of undermining trust in vaccines.
Zoom in: CVS tells Axios it will offer COVID shots in most states while major insurers, including Aetna, Blue Cross and Kaiser, say they'll continue covering vaccines at no cost, in line with federal rules.
What they're saying: "You're not alone if you're feeling confused," said Eric Chow in a recent Public Health — Seattle & King County blog post.
- Chow added that, like other parents, he's been waiting to learn whether his kids will be able to get a COVID shot this fall.
- He said this year's FDA decision to limit who can get the vaccine without a prescription takes "a much narrower focus than in previous years," and warned the restrictions could make it harder for families to stay protected.
Threat level: The policy change comes as COVID-19 cases have been surging across the country amid the rise of the Stratus variant.
Reality check: Experts generally see the COVID vaccine as safe and effective, especially for those at risk of serious illness.
What's next: The CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices is set to vote in mid-September on who gets the new shot.