Questions about the new COVID shot in central PA? What to know about insurance and more

Now more than three years into the coronavirus pandemic, it can be hard to keep all the news straight. That becomes even more challenging when new vaccines hit the market.

A pair of new, updated COVID-19 booster shots are available after receiving approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration earlier in September. Now, you might be left wondering who should get a vaccine, how much it might cost and whether you could pair it with other vaccinations.

Here’s what to know about the new COVID-19 vaccine, according to health care experts in the Centre County area and government resources.

What are the new COVID boosters?

The recently approved vaccines, developed by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, are monovalent, meaning they are made to specifically protect against XBB.1.5, a new descendant of the omicron variant that emerged in 2022, the New York Times reports.

Dr. Stacey Cummings, a Geisinger pediatrician who helps lead the health system’s vaccine rollout, says the new boosters will fight against this fall’s most prevalent virus strains.

“We believe this monovalent vaccine will cover the circulating strains that seem to be contributing to increasing COVID cases and hospitalizations in the last few weeks,” Cummings said.

COVID-19 data reporting has greatly scaled down since the federal public health emergency expired in May. However, recent U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data suggests nationwide COVID-19-related hospitalizations are up 7.7% over the past week, while deaths have increased by about 12.5%.

PA will shift its reporting with end of COVID emergency. What we know about cases, more

Who should get the new COVID boosters?

Luckily, that question is pretty easy.

“Basically, anyone who hasn’t had it,” Cummings said, noting it mostly comes down to each patient’s age. “The majority of the population who are 6 and older really just need one dose of the latest vaccine to be considered ‘up to date.’ For younger children, it depends on how old they are the time of their doses and if they have received any previous doses.”

According to the CDC, everyone aged 6 months and older should receive the new vaccine. More specific recommendations are available for people who are pregnant and those with weakened or compromised immune systems, as they may be more susceptible to severe bouts of COVID-19 and its effects, including potential hospitalization or death.

What if I recently had COVID or just got an older booster?

According to the CDC, you should wait at least three months to get a COVID-19 vaccine if you recently tested positive for the virus.

You can get a new booster shot if you have not received a COVID-19 vaccine in the past two months, the agency advises.

Can I get the new COVID booster and a flu shot? Should I wait?

By all accounts, there’s no need to wait to act on both your COVID-19 booster and influenza vaccine as flu season approaches this fall.

“It’s a good idea to get them at the same appointment,” Cummings said. “That will allow you to be up to date on your influenza vaccine and your COVID vaccine at the same time. They have been studied together, and we believe they are safe together. They’re just as efficacious if they’re given together or separately.”

CDC research has indicated flu and COVID-19 vaccines are safe when paired together. A new study published by the agency this summer found patients who received a COVID-19 booster and a flu vaccine at the same time were slightly more likely to experience mild reactions, including fatigue and a headache, though they disappeared quickly.

Can my COVID booster cause side effects?

COVID-19 vaccines are largely no different than any other shot. Doses may cause mild arm soreness near the injection point in addition to flu-like symptoms for some patients, the CDC advises.

Notably, those who are allergic to polyethylene glycol (PEG) should not receive Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccines, the CDC says. Additionally, those who are allergic to polysorbate should not receive Novavax’s vaccine.

Patients should talk to their doctors if they experienced a severe allergic reaction after receiving a previous vaccine dose, the agency says. Other types of COVID-19 vaccines are available.

How much do COVID vaccines cost? Are they covered by insurance?

In Pennsylvania, COVID-19 vaccines through in-network providers come at no cost for most people with health insurance plans or coverage through state-level and federal programs, including Medicare and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Coverage may also continue through several other initiatives, including the federally funded Vaccines for Children program.

At face value, new boosters could cost at least $100 for uninsured patients, Pfizer said last month. Most patients are not expected to pay out of pocket, but those who are left with a hefty bill could turn to the company’s assistance program.

For now, a new government “bridge” program may help provide free access to COVID-19 vaccines through at least 2024. The $1 billion program, launched through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, aims to offer no-cost vaccines for the 25 to 30 million U.S. adults without health insurance.

You can find specific health care providers that offer no-cost vaccinations through the Bridge Access Program at vaccines.gov. There, you can pull up local maps of clinics offering different vaccine types for adults, children and those participating in federal assistance programs.

Where can I get my COVID booster in Centre County?

For now, that’s a bit tricky.

Following a series of phone calls, most pharmacy chains in the State College area have told the Centre Daily Times they have not yet received doses of the new COVID-19 boosters, though shipments are expected in the immediate future — possibly by next week or the end of September. Once vaccines arrive, appointments would be available nearly instantly.

CVS, for example, offers the new COVID-19 booster shots, but no appointments are available for the next week within 30 miles of State College as of Friday, according to the company’s online vaccine locator tool. Several Rite Aid and Weis pharmacies said they were waiting to receive dose shipments before opening up appointment scheduling, though the latter’s Rolling Ridge Drive supermarket in State College said it had vaccines on hand already.

Geisinger’s health network is accepting vaccine appointments through MyGeisinger, the MyChart mobile app or via phone by calling 570-284-3657.

Mount Nittany Health, meanwhile, is in the process of acquiring updated COVID-19 boosters, the health system said in a statement.

“COVID-19 is not behind us, and we may see periodic spikes in the number of cases,” said Chief Medical Officer Dr. Christopher Hester. “It is important to stay up to date with your COVID-19 booster doses. Mount Nittany Health is working to have the booster shots available in the coming weeks.”

Centre Volunteers in Medicine, a community medical clinic that primarily serves uninsured and disadvantaged patients, said it currently has no plans to host vaccination events this fall as it has in the past. A lack of free vaccines provided by the federal and state governments will prevent CVIM from administering booster shots, Executive Director Cheryl White said.

Though the options are limited as we head toward late September, the latest COVID-19 booster shots are expected to become more widely available in Centre County soon. You can check on availability through vaccines.gov or by using online search tools provided on each pharmacy chain’s website.