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As winter approaches, Santa Clara County is rolling out an updated Covid-19 vaccine, but for some people, there is a hurdle to getting the shot – its cost.
Free and low-cost Covid shots are still available through health insurance providers. Children also can receive free Covid shots through a Vaccines for Children Program, run by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But the large bulk of federal funding for Covid vaccines has ended, leaving uninsured and underinsured adults in a lurch.
Tens of thousands of people in the county do not have health insurance coverage, putting them at risk for serious illness or hospitalization from Covid, said Dr. Angela Suarez, primary medical director at Santa Clara Valley Healthcare, who spoke at a news conference on Thursday, Sept. 19.
Earlier in the year, the state expanded its Medi-Cal program to make health insurance available to more low-income individuals and families, regardless of their immigration status. Since then, the county has been working to enroll more people in Medi-Cal, which will give them access to the updated vaccine as well as to other free and discounted medical services, Suarez said.
For the small number of people who don’t qualify for Medi-Cal, the county offers additional resources, Suarez said, referring to the county’s Healthcare Access Program (HAP). Not just for people without insurance, HAP can help those who have insurance and are facing high medical fees, she said.
Right now, the county is focusing on getting people access to the updated Covid vaccine in the absence of federal support to pay for it.
“The bottom line is, we want to ensure that everyone who needs a vaccine, which is everyone 6 months of age and older, gets a vaccine,” said Dr. Sara Cody, Santa Clara County’s public health director.
County officials also offered tips for getting the updated Covid vaccine. If covered by insurance, the best place to get the booster is from a health care provider or a pharmacy, like CVS or Walgreens. Most people with insurance will be able to get it without out-of-pocket costs.
People who do not have insurance or a doctor can get in touch with the county’s patient access department for help. It is open Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., according to a county press release.
Santa Clara Valley Healthcare patients also can schedule Covid vaccine appointments now.
“Strike while the iron is hot,” Cody said, adding that any time before Oct. 31 would be a good time to get the updated vaccine, as well as the flu shot. She noted that the updated Covid vaccine was well-matched to the strains that are currently circulating in the community.
“It’s just something that we have to fold into our routines to be prepared for winter,” Cody said.
