Will you be able to get a COVID-19 shot? Here's what we know so far
[June 07, 2025]
By LAURAN NEERGAARD and TOM MURPHY
Want a COVID-19 vaccination this fall? For many Americans, it’s not
clear how easy it will be to get one — and some doctors already see
signs of trouble.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who was a longtime anti-vaccine
activist, said last month that the shots are no longer recommended for
healthy children and pregnant women, usurping a decision normally made
by scientific experts, not political appointees.
Days later, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said healthy
children and pregnant women “may” get COVID-19 vaccinations, removing
stronger language that those groups “should” get the shots. Its website
currently lists no advice for pregnant women — graying out that section
of the vaccine guidance chart.
The change follows an earlier Trump administration step to limit
COVID-19 vaccinations among healthy people under age 65.
Until now, the U.S. — following guidance from independent experts who
advise the CDC — has recommended yearly COVID-19 vaccinations for
everyone age 6 months and older.
Together, the moves have left health experts, vaccine makers and
insurers uncertain about what to advise and what comes next.
In Seattle, University of Washington infectious disease expert Dr. John
B. Lynch said he recently advised a fellow health care worker who's
pregnant to get vaccinated. She agreed, only to be turned away by two
pharmacies.
“That’s the practical implication,” Lynch told reporters in an
Infectious Diseases Society of America briefing. “We see confusion play
out. We see chaos play out. And we see barriers to access.”
The conflicting statements are also leaving primary care doctors
uncertain of how to advise patients, Lynch added.
“I'm not sure when that confusion is going to be abated,” he said.
How can I get a COVID-19 shot for myself or my healthy child?
Some of this season’s vaccine is still available. Insurance industry
experts say if people had coverage before Kennedy’s announcement,
insurance likely would still pay for the shots.
In a move that could help access, Wisconsin's health department
announced that state "continues to recommend the current COVID-19
vaccine during pregnancy and for every person 6 months and older," and
reiterating the its state Medicaid program will continue to cover it.
Will I still be able to choose a shot in the fall for myself or my
child?
Who will be able to get what vaccines this fall is still unclear.
Vaccine manufacturers plan to issue updated COVID-19 shots in the late
summer or fall. But the Food and Drug Administration has said it plans
to limit approval of seasonal shots to seniors and others at high risk,
pending more studies of everyone else.
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 Even if the U.S. approves vaccines
only for certain groups, it still may be possible for others to get
the shot depending on the outcome of upcoming advisory meetings,
regulatory moves and decisions from insurers and employers.
Will my insurance still pay?
Insurers base coverage decisions on the recommendations of that CDC
panel, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. It’s not
clear what role that panel now will play. Paying out of pocket could
cost about $200.
The CDC says its new language for healthy kids — known as shared
decision-making — means health insurers must pay for the
vaccinations.
Some insurers and employers may decide to still cover the shots no
matter what, said Jen Kates, a senior vice president at the
non-profit KFF, which studies health care issues. She noted that
they may view the expense as worthwhile if it avoids a higher bill
from someone hospitalized by the coronavirus.
What’s considered increased risk?
The FDA published a list of health conditions it said would qualify,
including asthma, cancer, diabetes, obesity and physical inactivity.
The CDC has a more extensive list.
But, again, it isn't yet known how this will play out. For example,
it could be hard for people to prove they're qualified. If they're
vaccinated at a drugstore, for instance, the pharmacist wouldn't
normally know about underlying health problems or even ask.
And Ajay Sethi, an epidemiologist at the University of
Wisconsin-Madison, said “this elephant in the room” is that blocking
vaccination to the healthy may mean people who have a risk factor
and simply don't know it will miss out.
Adding to the confusion was Kennedy's implication that the
coronavirus isn’t dangerous to pregnant women.
COVID-19 complications during pregnancy can include preterm birth as
well as serious illness in the mother, and the Society for
Maternal-Fetal Medicine said it “strongly reaffirms” its
recommendation for vaccination during pregnancy. Moreover,
vaccinating mom can provide spillover protection for the newborn for
a few months, until he or she is old enough for their own
vaccination, Lynch stressed.
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Associated Press writer Mike Stobbe contributed to this report.
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