Most likely they can still obtain the vax, it will just be off-label so insurance may not cover it.
Per the CDC (WaPo), 74% of Americans have at least one risk factor that will make them eligible for the Vax. So, the change is much ado about nothing IMO.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/05/20/covid-vaccine-elderly-high-risk-fda/
Sorry, but I thought it was clear that the piece was an explanation of the Govtâs position.
As an aside, I was surprised that our take rate was so low, given all the interest on cc; and, that our existing policy was more expansive than the Euros.
Well I donât qualify. H might if having CLL counts. But if I donât get one, he wonât. And I wouldnât make him. He seems to have won the Covid gene lottery. Worst heâs ever gotten with it is clearing his throat more than usual for a day or two. His 90 year old Dad is the same. Iâm not so lucky.
I suppose it will be an experiment to see how much they helped me. I canât say Iâm devastated, but I wish I had the choice. And not the choice of paying for it out of pocket. I believe itâs still pretty $$$, right?
I donât qualify, either. Iâm penalized for being healthy?
Yup. I suppose I could say I smoked, but then Iâd have to go through smoking cessation classes at work to get the cheaper premium rate! Plus I have to sign that I swear that Iâm telling the truth re: tobacco use for that rate. I wonder if they ever had anyone lie saying they did smoke when they didnât?!
(And no I would never do that. I couldnât sleep at night)
I guess I could say Iâm inactive, but it wouldnât be true.
Current prices for self pay of COVID-19 vaccines are around $90-140. However, prices may differ before the typical season compared to now that the season has passed.
I disagree with your assumptions.
No, it was not clear from your single link post, but thank you for clarifying. Just wanted to point that out because folks might assume, seeing the NEJM as the source but without actually opening the article, that this is the opinion of some KOL panel or results of a study.
From Reuters reporting:
But for healthy people between the ages of six months and 64 years, the FDA expects it would require formal clinical trials for drugmakers to get approval for annual shots.
That doesnât sound like boosters would be available for that group even if they self-pay.
The problem with that is that many people wonât be able to afford the off-insurance price. Chalk up another 
in the âstrike against the low incomeâ category.
When a drug is on the market, doctors are free to prescribe for whatever condition/in whatever patients they want, even conditions that arenât FDA approved. Thatâs whatâs called âoff labelâ use. I would expect plenty of docs and pharmacists to still tell their patients to get the boosters whether they are at risk or not (and the majority of people are âat riskâ.) I also expect many insurance companies will still cover the vaccines whether at risk or not. (unless we cross into a new world where there are consequences for off label prescribing which of course could be possible)
With that said there is generally low uptake of covid boosters in the last year in the US:
Here is the full list of at risk diseases/conditions, see link below. Note that itâs not BMI of 30+ (obesity) that puts a person at risk for severe Covid (as someone cited above), itâs BMI of 25 (overweight) and above.
Link isnât working
Oops, fixed it! Thanks for the heads up
It is ridiculous that Prasad et all are trying to pretend this has anything to do with science or public health. They are rejecting any data from observational studies over the past 4 years and want a double blind placebo trial! Which is, of course, unethical at this point since we know the vaccines reduce the risk of hospitalization and death at all ages.
73% of Americans are âoverweightâ by the BMI > 25 definition, so that is probably where the high percentage of âhigh riskâ people comes from.
Marketing COVID-19 vaccine as only for âhigh riskâ people may reduce uptake among âhigh riskâ people, if some of them do not know that they fall into the âhigh riskâ categories.
My BMI is at 20. I suppose I could gain 35 pounds⊠I donât have a regular doctor who would prescribe it for me either. So my only hope is that the insurance company does t drop it for people who just walk into cvs to get their vaccines
BMI is such an inferior measuring stick. One can have a BMI of 25 or greater and be in excellent health. And one can have a BMI below 25 and still have a high % of body fat.
If so many people qualify as âhigh riskâ why not keep the recommendations as they are and let individuals and their doctors make decisions about immunization? The 25% of people you all are saying are the only ones who will be affected by this change surely can make a decision for themselves and may consider the importance of helping to protect others who are high risk. But thatâs not what the new FDA statements are saying.
Your Local Epidemiologist says only people with a BMI over 30 will be eligible.
