New York City pharmacies and doctors’ offices are starting to get shipments of the latest COVID vaccine after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved it earlier this month.
“Every year, you will need an updated COVID vaccine because COVID continues to change,” said Dr. Sybil Hodgson, chief of clinical services for Montefiore Medical Group, the physician network associated with Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx.
It doesn’t stay the same.” Here’s what New Yorkers need to know about getting vaccinated against COVID this season.
Many pharmacies and doctors’ offices are still waiting to receive the new COVID vaccine, but it’s already available in some locations and likely to be widely accessible by early September.
Last year, the Biden administration had to send out a notice reminding health plans of their COVID vaccine coverage obligations.
For a patient paying out of pocket, the new COVID shot will cost about $200, said Thibault, the spokesperson for CVS.
However, those who have recently recovered from COVID may consider delaying their shot by three months, according to the CDC.
Those getting vaccinated against COVID now should get their flu shots at the same time, Hodgson recommended.
The latest vaccine was developed to protect against a COVID strain known as KP.2, which city data shows accounted for about 23% of the cases in New York City as of mid-August.
Even if you’re vaccinated, it’s a good idea to have some at-home COVID tests on hand, just in case, Hodgson advises.
Another year, and it’s that time.
Pharmacies and medical offices in New York City are beginning to receive shipments of the most recent COVID vaccine following the U.S. S. It received approval earlier this month from the Food and Drug Administration.
The U.S. recommends administering this vaccine to anyone older than six months, as it is designed to combat the latest strains of the virus. S. Centers for Disease Prevention and Control.
Health care providers say that getting vaccinated against COVID is still important in order to protect against infection and prevent severe symptoms if you do contract the virus, even though the vaccine may not seem as important as it did when the first shots were released at the end of 2020.
According to Dr. Sybil Hodgson, chief of clinical services at Montefiore Medical Group, the physician network connected to Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx, “every year you will need an updated COVID vaccine because COVID continues to change.”. The thing never remains inactive. Nothing remains the same. “.
What residents of New York should know about getting vaccinated against COVID this season is provided here.
In New York City, when and where will the vaccine be available?
The COVID-19 vaccine is currently available in certain areas and should be widely available by early September, although many pharmacies and physician offices are still waiting to receive it.
The pharmacy chain CVS said on Wednesday that it is now accepting walk-ins and appointments for the vaccination. The updated shots will be available at Walgreens beginning on September. 6. According to spokeswoman Fernanda Sinzato, patients can begin scheduling appointments online right away.
Calling patients now can add them to a waitlist for the vaccine, according to Hodgson, who expressed optimism that everything would be ready shortly after Labor Day.
As of Tuesday, there were no locations for COVID vaccinations listed on the city health department’s Vaccine Finder website. However, Patrick Gallahue, a spokesman, stated that the website will be updated as soon as healthcare providers receive shipments.
“We urge everyone to keep checking Vaccine Finder or get in touch with their pharmacies and providers to find out when the vaccine will be accessible,” stated Gallahue.
Will everyone receive the vaccination for free?
Federal law mandates that the majority of insurance plans pay for vaccinations without requiring patients to pay out-of-pocket; however, some plans may charge a copay if the provider is out of network. The Biden administration was required to notify health plans of their COVID vaccination coverage responsibilities last year.
The federal Bridge Access Program, which provides free COVID shots to the uninsured, expires this month, so anyone without insurance should find out ahead of time if they will have to pay out of pocket for the injection.
Compared to chain pharmacies, safety-net providers like NYC Health and Hospitals and federally funded community health centers are more likely to be able to offer low-income patients without insurance free or inexpensive options.
Christopher Miller, a representative for the healthcare system, stated that “NYC Health and Hospitals takes care of all New Yorkers without exception, and that includes vaccination.”.
The new COVID vaccine will run a patient about $200 if they pay out of pocket, according to CVS spokesperson Thibault.
Do I need to get vaccinated now?
Although the summer COVID-19 pandemic in New York is over, the city’s data indicates that, on average, 645 new cases per day were reported last week.
According to Johns Hopkins University immunology professor Andy Pekosz, who specializes in respiratory disease research, getting vaccinated now will offer defense against both the summer surge that is ending and the wave that is anticipated to arrive this winter.
According to the CDC, people who have just recovered from COVID might want to postpone their vaccination by three months.
According to Pekosz, “the vaccination really isn’t needed because the immunity from your infection will provide protection from a reinfection.”.
According to Hodgson, people who are currently receiving COVID vaccinations ought to receive their flu shots concurrently.
Will the recently developed vaccine offer protection against the most recent variations?
The most recent vaccination was created to guard against the KP strain of COVID. 2. According to city data, as of mid-August, this number represented roughly 23% of all cases in New York City.
PK. 2 is “very closely related to most of the variants that are circulating right now,” according to Pekosz, although given the virus’s ongoing evolution, he acknowledged that obtaining a perfect match is impossible.
Pekosz went on to say that since the strains of COVID that are currently in circulation differ greatly from those that were the focus of last year’s vaccine, it is extremely crucial to receive the updated version this year.
Bonus: How about testing for COVID?
Hodgson suggests keeping some COVID tests on hand for at-home use, even if you’ve received the vaccination.
Redesigning its free test kit program is the Biden administration. From late September onwards, each U.S. s. Each household should be able to order four tests for free via the internet.
