As COVID variant NB.1.8.1 spreads across the U.S., here's how much a booster vaccine will cost you

If you're healthy and under 65, you might have to pay $200 for a COVID-19 vaccine now. At least this is what a key proposal by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says, which is now circulating on social media, as per the reports.

Now, only people over 65 and those with existing health issues are recommended to get the vaccine. Pregnant women and healthy kids are also not included in this recommendation anymore. It’s unclear if this change affects just boosters or also includes initial doses for babies, as per the reports.

Since insurance follows federal recommendations, most healthy people under 65 may not be covered and will have to pay out of pocket. Kennedy did not give a reason for the changes, but he has previously said he doubted the quality of past vaccine studies.

Some doctors and experts are upset because these changes were made without scientific review or expert panels, which is the usual process. Dr. Goodman said, “We haven't been shown any data to justify this step”, according to the USA TODAY report.

COVID and doctors worry

These changes go against Kennedy’s earlier promises to follow expert advice and CDC guidance. Normally, changes in vaccine rules are made after reviews by CDC and FDA panels. Kennedy skipped that process.

This could be confusing for families and limit their choices, say doctors. The American Academy of Pediatrics said Kennedy ignored the “long-established, evidence-based process.” The Infectious Disease Society of America wants insurance companies to keep covering vaccines even if the recommendation is gone, as mentioned in the reports.

COVID and Kids

Under the new policy, healthy children won’t be recommended for the COVID vaccine anymore. Between Fall 2023 and Fall 2024, less than 5% of kids got the vaccine, even though COVID sends as many kids to the hospital as the flu does. Kids under 4 face about 100 hospitalizations per 100,000, as per the USA TODAY report.

The vaccine helps protect against current variants and severe illness, said Dr. Melissa Stockwell from Columbia University. The COVID vaccine is safe for children, though in rare cases, adolescent boys had a small risk of heart inflammation. This risk was higher early on, not recently. Vaccinated kids have a 40% lower risk of getting long COVID, which can include tiredness, cough, sleep trouble, and more, according to the reports.

A new JAMA Pediatrics study says 1 in 7 children who had COVID may develop long COVID symptoms. Dr. Stockwell said, "Parents who want vaccines for their kids should be able to get them", as per the USA TODAY report.

COVID and Pregnant Women

The policy no longer recommends COVID vaccines during pregnancy. But doctors say pregnant women have high risks from COVID, like miscarriage, stillbirth, preeclampsia, blood clots, heart/kidney damage, and high blood pressure, according to the reports.

Newborns are also at high risk because their lungs are small and they've never had COVID before. If the mom is vaccinated during pregnancy, the baby is protected after birth until they can get vaccinated. The vaccine has been shown to be very safe during pregnancy, as stated in the report by USA TODAY.

The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine strongly supports vaccines during pregnancy. They said the vaccine can be given at any time during pregnancy and helps reduce maternal and infant hospitalizations.

Before he became Health Secretary, RFK Jr. promised lawmakers he would follow CDC rules and not change the vaccine review system. Cassidy said Kennedy told him he would stick to expert advice and not create new systems for approving vaccines. But with this sudden change, Kennedy broke that promise, many believe, as mentioned in the reports by USA TODAY.

FAQs

Q1. Who has to pay for the COVID vaccine now?
Healthy people under 65 may need to pay around $200 out of pocket.

Q2. Are COVID vaccines still recommended for kids and pregnant women?
No, new rules no longer recommend them for these groups.