Trying to get a COVID vaccine right now? Here's what to know

People seeking this year's COVID booster changeable whitethorn find it much difficult than nan past. Francine Orr/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images hide caption

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Francine Orr/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images

If you want a COVID shot, it tin beryllium frustrating to effort to get 1 correct now.

That's because nan Food and Drug Administration has narrowed its approval for this year's shots to only definite groups: those 65 and older, and group astatine precocious consequence for processing terrible unwellness from nan virus. It's a awesome departure from argumentation successful past years, erstwhile nan vaccines had been approved for anyone 6 months and older.

Trump management wellness officials reason that astir different healthy, younger group person truthful overmuch immunity that they don't needfully request yearly boosters anymore. But galore doctors' groups opportunity it's a bully thought to get 1 to debar superior unwellness aliases spreading it to others who whitethorn beryllium high-risk.

So nan alteration intends you whitethorn person to work harder to get a shot. In nan past, you could conscionable locomotion into a drugstore and inquire for one. But now, you mightiness get turned distant if you don't meet those criteria.

Here's what to cognize astir getting a changeable correct now.

Q. If nan pharmacist says I'm not eligible, do I person immoderate options?

A: Yes. If you person 1 of nan consequence factors you whitethorn beryllium capable to "self-attest" that you're eligible. That intends simply telling nan pharmacist that you person a consequence facet aliases indicating your consequence facet erstwhile scheduling a shot. Often nary archiving is required.

At nan moment, immoderate pharmacies whitethorn opportunity you request to get a expert to rumor you a medicine for a shot. That request whitethorn spell distant successful immoderate states aft nan Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issues circumstantial recommendations for who should get vaccinated. The CDC advisory committee that makes those recommendations is scheduled to meet Sept. 18-19.

Q. How do I cognize if I americium astatine consequence -- what conditions mightiness make maine eligible?

A: The CDC lists consequence factors for nan nationalist here and for wellness attraction providers here. They see group who are 65 and older, group from a group aliases taste number and group who person disabilities. There's besides a wide database of conditions, including:

• Asthma
• Cancer
• Cerebrovascular disease
• Chronic kidney disease
• Chronic lung disease
• Chronic liver disease
• Cystic fibrosis
• Diabetes (both types)
• Disabilities
• Heart conditions
• HIV
• Mental wellness conditions – including depression
• Neurologic conditions (Dementia and Parkinson's disease)
• Obesity
• Physical inactivity
• Primary immunodeficiencies
• Smoking (even if you quit)
• Solid organ aliases humor stem compartment transplantation
• Tuberculosis
• Use of corticosteroids aliases different immunosuppressive medications

The FDA estimates betwixt 100 cardinal and 200 cardinal Americans would qualify.

Q. What if I'm pregnant?

A: Pregnancy is besides named arsenic a consequence factor, moreover though nan CDC agency dropped nan proposal that pregnant women routinely get vaccinated. The discrepancy is causing immoderate disorder astir whether pharmacists tin administer nan shots and insurers will salary for vaccination. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists does recommend nan changeable during pregnancy.

Q. What astir children — tin they get it?

A: Yes, nan COVID vaccine has been approved for children — but this twelvemonth it's only for those pinch consequence factors for superior complications. And for nan first time, only 1 vaccine, Moderna's, has been approved for children arsenic young arsenic six months old. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is approved for children 5 and older. Novavax's vaccine has been approved for children arsenic young arsenic property 12.

Parents whitethorn request to get a medicine if they want to vaccinate different patient children. And nary vaccine has been approved for younger children, specified arsenic newborn babies, moreover though very young children are among those astir susceptible to getting earnestly sick from COVID. That's 1 logic why doctors urge pregnant women get vaccinated — to walk protective antibodies to babies successful nan womb.

Q. Some pharmacies don't look to person them — wherever tin I find nan shots? 

A: This year's vaccines person started to go disposable astatine galore pharmacies, doctor's offices, clinics and hospitals, but immoderate locations whitethorn not person received their orders yet but should soon. The vaccine manufacturers opportunity they are producing plentifulness of vaccine, truthful proviso shouldn't beryllium an rumor moreover pinch nan narrower FDA approvals.

But immoderate doctors that stocked nan vaccine successful nan past whitethorn walk this clip if they don't deliberation location will beryllium capable demand. That intends you whitethorn request to spell to a drugstore to get a shot.

Pharmacy chains for illustration CVS and Walgreens person websites wherever group tin find a vaccine and schedule appointments. Pfizer and Moderna both opened vaccine-finder websites.

Q. Even if I tin find a drugstore that has nan shots, will my security screen it? 

A: That's unclear. Insurance companies are only required to salary for nan shots if they person been recommended by nan CDC. That won't hap until adjacent week astatine nan earliest. But immoderate security companies opportunity they are covering nan shots anyway, truthful it's worthy asking if your scheme covers it.

About half of the children successful nan U.S. are eligible for free vaccines done nan national government's Vaccines for Children Program but nan COVID shots won't beryllium included successful that until aft nan CDC recommendations spell into effect, and moreover then, it whitethorn dangle connected nan child's wellness conditions.

For those who person to salary retired of pocket, nan shots costs betwixt $150 and $200.

Q. The CDC's advisory committee is gathering soon astir nan COVID shots — will that make it easier aliases harder to get a shot?

A: The vaccine advisory group is scheduled to meet Sept. 18-19 and is expected to rumor circumstantial recommendations for who should person nan shots, which past request to beryllium accepted by nan CDC director. The recommendations person respective important effects, including allowing pharmacists successful much states to administer nan vaccines and making them disposable for free done nan national Vaccines for Children Program. So nan shots could go much easy disposable aft nan recommendations — aliases little truthful — depending connected what nan committee recommends and what nan CDC head accepts.