CDC Updates Coronavirus Vaccine Guidance,Removing Prior Health Condition Requirements
The Centers for disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has endorsed updated coronavirus vaccine recommendations that eliminate the previous requirement for individuals to attest to underlying health conditions when receiving the shot. The change, greenlit after a proposal from the CDC’s advisory panel, simplifies access to the vaccine for all those over six months of age.
Previously, the Food and Drug Governance (FDA) had outlined conditions such as heart problems, asthma, obesity, a history of smoking, and physical inactivity as factors to consider. Though, the CDC’s advisory panel did not designate any specific health conditions as part of its broader recommendation.
CVS has already announced it will remove questions about underlying conditions from its online booking system, and will no longer require attestation of such conditions. Walgreens will also not require proof of an underlying condition,according to a company spokesperson.
Insurance Coverage
Most Americans are expected to have free access to the coronavirus vaccines. Insurers are obligated to cover vaccines recommended through shared clinical decision-making, though past rules have sometimes led to confusion.
AHIP, the health insurance trade group, has committed to covering costs through the end of 2026. Medicare, Medicaid, and other public programs will continue to cover the shots.
Pharmaceutical companies are also offering assistance programs. Pfizer provides free vaccines or helps cover copayments for eligible uninsured individuals through its PfizerRxPathways.com program. Moderna partners with Project Hope and Direct Relief to distribute no-cost vaccines through federally qualified health centers and charitable clinics.Sanofi, which is commercializing the Novavax vaccine for those 12 and older, has not yet announced comparable programs.
The patient Advocate Foundation is also covering coronavirus vaccine copayments for certain lower-income individuals and families.
