No, in the U.S., COVID-19 vaccines are still free for everyone. They are either covered by your health insurance or by a government program if you are uninsured.
With the end of the government’s official pandemic emergency response last Spring, the U.S. government no longer directly purchases COVID-19 vaccines to provide free to the public. But there are still several ways to get a COVID-19 vaccine at no-cost.
For people who are insured:
If you have private health insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid, you can get the updated COVID-19 vaccine from your clinician or at a local pharmacy at no cost.
For adults without insurance:
U.S. adults who don’t have insurance can get the updated vaccine for free via the CDC Bridge Access program at a local health department, federally qualified health center, or participating pharmacies. You can find the location of your local health department here, or search for the nearest Federally Qualified Health Center here. You can also search for pharmacies participating in the Bridge to Access program based on your zip code or address here.
For kids without insurance:
Children who qualify for the Vaccines for Children program (which includes kids who are uninsured, whose insurance doesn’t cover vaccines or has a cap on coverage, who are eligible for Medicaid or who are American Indian or Alaskan Native), can get a COVID-19 vaccine at any Vaccine for Children program provider. Vaccines for Children providers include public health clinics, Federally Qualified Health Centers, and rural health clinics. Many state health department websites provide a way to search directly for a VFC provider (example here), or you can also contact your local health department for help finding a location.
The updated COVID-19 vaccine is recommended for everyone aged 6 months and older, so don’t let cost stop you from getting the updated COVID-19 vaccine this fall!
Link to Original Substack Post
