Why seniors who want covid shots should consider getting one this week, WaPo 9/17/25

[progree]

Last edited Thu Sep 18, 2025, 06:26 AM - Edit history (1)

Story by Lena H. Sun, David Ovalle
For people 65 or older considering getting a new covid shot, this week might be the best opportunity to get vaccinated without complications before a federal vaccine advisory committee’s scheduled Friday vote to issue recommendations.

That’s because that panel, known as the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, has been weighing revisions to coronavirus vaccine recommendations that could make it more difficult for seniors to access the shots as soon as this weekend, according to several people familiar with their deliberations. Those recommendations influence the policies set by doctors and pharmacists to administer vaccines. They also compel health insurers to pay for the vaccine, although a major insurance industry group pledged Wednesday to keep covering coronavirus vaccines regardless of how that committee votes.

The guidelines the committee has floated could force some seniors who can currently walk into a pharmacy and get a vaccine free to have to pay out-of-pocket or bring a prescription, according to the people familiar with the planning. They spoke on the condition of anonymity to disclose internal discussions meant to be confidential.

The advisers have considered narrowing the recommendation to everyone 75 and older, as well as younger people with underlying conditions that elevate their risk for severe disease. They could also scrap the age-based recommendation entirely and limit to only those at heightened risk for severe disease. It’s also possible that they take a more permissive approach and recommend that everyone could get an updated coronavirus vaccine if their doctor agrees they should.

Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/why-seniors-who-want-covid-shots-should-consider-getting-one-this-week/ar-AA1MLGkW


No paywall and no games like "gimme your email first" at this MSN-hosted story

I know, its Thursday morning and it is essentially saying get it today or tomorrow.

In case people want to follow discussions, it's been cross-posted to
LBN: https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143532086
Editorials: https://www.democraticunderground.com/1016413685
Seniors: https://www.democraticunderground.com/118313023
and right here, this one, in GD: https://www.democraticunderground.com/100220652894

[bucolic_frolic]

1. Pharmacies will be jam-packed and out of shots by afternoon today

They have failed to implement a phase-out period. You know, tapering recommeded schedules, frequency. Once a year, no more updated formulations, one last jab to boost you through.

Bozo's worrying about blue dye instead of sugar and covid.

[progree]

3. I doubt as a result of this story that people are going to flood pharmacies today and tormorrow

Myself, I'm probably gonig to take a pass, but I'm thinking seriously about it. I can at least check a couple pharmacy chains online and see if an appointment can be scheduled. My last was in late April

[DFW]

2. Yeah, I figured Bobby wouldn't stop at preventing US residents who were under 65 from getting vaccine.

Sooner or later, statistics would show that vaccinated seniors were getting infected in far fewer numbers than unvaccinated people who were younger, and that would have blasted his whacko theories into grape nuts.

Sometimes German bureaucrats drive me crazy, but in this regard, slow to react thought they may be, they do not let themselves be swayed by deranged wannabe control freaks from North America. So, when the vaccine is available, and two months have passed since my last booster (late August in Dallas), I will be getting my next booster, independent of whatever insanity is reigning back in the States.

One thing that travelers between the USA and Europe should prepare for is that anyone entering the EU from the USA may once again be required to show proof of recent vaccination before being admitted. Since that will be almost no one with a US passport or green card, one benefit is that I will not have to fight for a reservation on planes between the two--unless Bobby finds a way to forbid vaccinated people from entering the USA, in which case, my permanent residence visa/work permit for the EU will come in very handy. The Germans won't be rounding me up and sending me to South Sudan any time in the near future.

We'll be singing his song as he forces his Looney Tunes theories on the country:

[retread]

4. Here in DeSatan land getting a covid 19 shot is a nightmare. You need a prescription. Good luck

calling a busy Doctor's office and having one faxed to the proper pharmacy. Took me 3 try's and 2 pharmacies. My wife STILL hasn't gotten one even though she stood in front of the pharmacist with her Doctor's office on her phone.
1. Call the pharmacy and verify they have the shots and will administer them with a prescription.
2. A couple of friends gave up the calling route and drove to their Doctor's office and got a prescription directly face to face.
3. Even after all that some pharmacies will want you to "schedule" an appointment.

[Karma13612]

6. We've been scheduling our vaccine

Appointments at the pharmacy for a few years now. It just makes it so much easier when you are busy and need to be in and out quickly. No need to wonder if there’s a wait or if they ran out of the vaccine.
I’m taking issue with the restrictions forcing the “under65” to go thru a doctor’s visit for a permission slip!!! Huge drain on healthcare resources. Eventually, insurance companies will probably stop paying for those visits. I’m over 65 so it’s the empath in me that drives my anger. These restrictions are monstrous and unnecessary as the smooth vaccination process in the past few years have proven.

[Karma13612]

5. Thanks to NY Gov Hochul,

Hubby (77) and I (71) are scheduled to get ours today. Research shows our current Medicare Advantage plan covers the shots. And we didn’t need to go thru any doctor permission slip hoops.

Frightening to think that after this weekend, even Seniors exemption from the restrictions would be in question.
I think insurance companies are also hoping to not have to cover these vaccines. By restricting approval, they can save big on coverage.

[sheshe2]

7. I got mine, the new one, a few weeks ago at CVS.