As COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations creep up during a summer wave of heightened virus activity, updated vaccines are still likely weeks away.
Why it matters:
- Americans have largely tuned out COVID, but the latest COVID uptick is a reminder that the virus continues to circulate and mutate — though the threat is far below pandemic-era levels.
- Health officials face a challenge convincing a pandemic-fatigued public to get an updated COVID shot, as vaccine uptake has declined with each successive booster.
Honestly, the HHS needs to stop referring to this as a pandemic and call it an endemic and treat this like a flu and get a cadence going for biannual boosters and reminders of covid and flu seasons.
Like our or not but most scientists seem to agree that this sucker is going to be endemic and the faster we move to that reality, the better.
Bold of you to assume everyone will accept the reality
Antivaxxers have literally been saying “itS nO worse tHaN the FLu!!” since day 1. If anything, they should be even more receptive to the idea.
You know they constantly move the goalposts.
There is no point in catering to crazy people.
We don’t get flu shots biannually though, is there a reason to do COVID boosters that way? I was under the impression we need them annually, or is that just because of the quick evolution of new variants?
“The updated COVID shots from Pfizer, Moderna and Novavax are expected to become available in the third or fourth week of September, according to the most recent guidance from CDC director Mandy Cohen.”
They say that, but it likely won’t be widely available till early October.
Seems like these things should be coordinated with kids going back to school every year but idk, not a medical professional.
How do you get the booster without insurance? My old company threw us under the buss after the stole our 401ks.
You go to a pharmacy and ask for a shot and pay cash. Fuck you for getting screwed over, ya know?
COVID vaccines are free whether or not you have insurance.
The only difference is that if you don’t have insurance, the government covers the cost.
Is this outdated? Because it used to be true but I had to pay for my sister’s last shot. Or…we got flu shots at the same time maybe that’s what I paid for?
Probably the flu shot. As far as I know no one pays for covid shots yet.
How can a company steal your 401? It’s already paid out to you
It can’t. It can avoid paying an unvested match, but that’s it. That person might be confusing a 401K for a pension, but even pensions are pretty well protected.
Just be rich and pay cash.
Seriously though, almost any vaccine distribution site was mandated to provide the shot to those without insurance including Walgreens, rite aid, etc., then the bill is sent to feds.
In my county all COVID vaccines and boosters are free to residents and in most regions around me I know there are programs to get them for free if you can’t afford them. I’m sure it’s not that way everywhere, though, but it’s certainly worth calling around and asking about.
But covid hasn’t tuned out Americans!
