September 12, 2025
Americans Struggle to Access COVID Vaccines
HHS Secretary Robert Kennedy, Jr. has said that Americans who want COVID shots will be able to get them. However, some older Americans have reported going to local pharmacies to receive
a COVID vaccine only to discover that Medicare currently won’t cover the cost.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) approve vaccines and provide recommendations about who should receive a vaccine, but the
HHS Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) determines whether insurance – both Medicare and some private plans – will pay for them.
In August, the FDA revised its guidance and approved updated coronavirus vaccines for Americans who are aged 65 years and older, or who are at least six months old and have an underlying health condition that increases their risk of severe complications from the disease.
Even though the FDA and CDC have approved updated COVID shots for older Americans, it’s unclear whether seniors will need a prescription to get the shot, and whether insurance plans – including Medicare – will be required to pay for them. Typically, the ACIP panel would have met earlier this year to determine these logistics, but since HHS Secretary Kennedy fired all members of the committee in June, the meeting is now delayed until September 18.
Medicare covers all vaccines recommended by ACIP, but if the committee decides not to recommend them, updated shots could cost seniors as much as $200.
“Health officials are still advising that Americans aged 65 and older get a booster shot to avoid serious complications from COVID,” said Joseph Peters, Jr., Secretary-Treasurer of the Alliance. “Seniors who are concerned about the cost of the vaccine should consider waiting to book an appointment until after ACIP meets. If booking an appointment before September 18, seniors should be prepared to pay out-of-pocket and monitor local health authorities for updates on guidance.”
This was originally published in the September 12, 2025 edition of the Friday Alert. Read the full length version and see other Friday Alert editions here.