Last year, when COVID vaccines were still free, just 1 in 5 Americans rolled up their sleeves to get the latest shot.
Health officials expect demand to weaken further when the next version of the vaccine rolls out this fall, as some people will have to pay more than $100 to get the shot.
Meanwhile, Kansas and Missouri have seen alarming spikes in coronavirus cases over the summer.
As students return to school, More and more people are testing positiveAccording to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there has been a rise in cases of people being taken to emergency rooms and hospitalized due to coronavirus infection.
In Kansas City, Reported Case Rate At the end of July, pollution levels were more than double what they were during the same week last year, and approaching levels last winter. At the same time, wastewater tests in Kansas and Missouri showed Showed viral activity Beyond the national and regional levels.
Of course, the virus is quite different than it was before. At the peak of the pandemic in January 2021, the CDC reported: About 30% of weekly deaths in the U.S. are thought to be due to COVID-19As of the week of August 3, the disease accounted for 1.5% of deaths in the United States.
But experts say the situation would have been very different without the vaccine. At the same time, some health experts blame the August surge in cases on low vaccination rates in September and October of last year.
“The urgency of COVID-19 has definitely gone down,” said Cecilia Thomas, a health policy consultant at Washington-based Ben Strategies. “People are now getting it or seeing other people getting it, but it’s like a cold. It’s not even a bad cold. But they don’t seem to realize that because they’ve been vaccinated, it’s not as bad.”
Immunity weakens over time as the virus mutates. Doctors advise getting an up-to-date COVID vaccination every year helps prepare your immune system to adapt to changes. But last year, as life seemed to return to normal for most people, many Americans passed on getting a COVID vaccination.
In early December, the peak of the vaccination season, Only 16% of adults have received the latest vaccine dose.By mid-May, that percentage had risen to just 22.5%.
The shock of the sudden increase in COVID-19 cases in the summer
Scientists had expected COVID-19 cases to rise in the summer because the virus waxes and wanes in temperate climates with the changing seasons, but the current surge has surprised some health experts, with more people getting infected and hospitalized.
Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, said the higher-than-expected cases are due to low vaccination rates last year.
“Many of the people currently hospitalized were not vaccinated last fall,” he said.
hospital No longer reporting number of patients hospitalized with COVID. But empirically, at least, doctors say more people are getting seriously ill with the virus — and some of those most at risk are getting seriously ill.
Dr. Dana Hawkinson, an infectious disease specialist at the University of Kansas Health System, said people should be especially mindful of the current risks, especially those who are at higher risk for severe illness because of their age or underlying health conditions.
“Make a plan, especially if you’re at higher risk,” he said.
That includes wearing a mask in crowded places, paying attention to hand hygiene, avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth when in public, and of course, keeping your vaccines up to date.
Up-to-date COVID vaccinations, recommended annually for anyone over 6 months of age, can help prevent severe illness and reduce the chance of long COVID.
But access to the current vaccine will likely become more difficult in the future, especially for uninsured patients.
COVID vaccine prices expected to rise further this fall
During the peak of the pandemic, COVID vaccinations were available to everyone for free — all you had to do was book an appointment online and go to your local pharmacy — no cash required.
When the federal government lifted the public health emergency in May 2023, most people with Medicare or Medicaid and private insurance were able to get vaccinated at no out-of-pocket cost. Those without insurance could get vaccinated for free through the $1 billion federal Bridge Access Program.
This was meant to fill the gap so that all COVID vaccinations would be free through the end of 2024. In the meantime, the CDC has committed to establishing a new program to ensure uninsured adults can continue to get COVID vaccines for free, under the federal government’s Vaccines for Children The program covers the cost of vaccines for minors whose families cannot afford them.
But that program hasn’t happened yet, and funding for the Bridge Access Program is fast drying up due to congressional budget cuts. Meanwhile, people with private insurance may have to pay out-of-pocket costs to get vaccinated.
For those without insurance, the vaccine can cost more than $100. The Johnson County Department of Health and Environment website states: Out-of-pocket expenses The cost of getting the COVID vaccine is $160.
Even if the vaccination is covered by insurance, many health departments charge an administration fee. The Johnson and Wyandotte County Health Departments charge a $20 administration fee for COVID vaccines or any other vaccine.
more:COVID-19 variant KP.3.1.1 becomes dominant in the US: See latest CDC data
Vaccine availability varies by health department
Public health officials worry that the added costs and complications will discourage many people from getting vaccinated again this fall, which could lead to more infections and hospitalizations during any future COVID-19 surges.
The current COVID-19 strain infecting many people this summer (known as the FLiRT variant) is related to Omicron, a variant of the virus that spread worldwide in late 2021. This variant is highly contagious and spreads easily.
And for most people who test positive, symptoms are still mild because most people have immunity from previous infection or vaccination. But scientists say the evolving virus could become dangerous again, which is why vaccines are so important.
“These vaccines have saved millions of lives in the United States and around the world,” Schaffner said, “but if the vaccine sits in your fridge it doesn’t protect you. To be effective, you have to get the vaccine in your arm.”
In addition to getting vaccinated, public health officials warn people should take other precautions, such as getting tested if they have symptoms, isolating if they become ill and wearing a mask to prevent the virus from spreading. If they test positive, doctors can prescribe antiviral medication to prevent serious illness.
Free Test They are still available at some pharmacies for people who are uninsured and have been infected with or have symptoms of COVID-19. Apply Antiviral treatments such as Paxlovid are available free of charge.
this story First published in Kansas City Beacon.
