New COVID-19 vaccine now available at some Waco pharmacies, in select clinics by November (2024)

The new COVID-19 vaccine that protects against the virus’ leading variants is now available in select Waco pharmacies, including H-E-B and CVS, and will be available in some clinics before November.

Unlike previous COVID-19 vaccines, it may not be free for everyone. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Bridge Access Program, which provided free COVID-19 vaccines to uninsured or underinsured adults, ended in August.

Most health insurance providers cover COVID-19 vaccines, including Medicare and Medicaid plans. Children can also still receive the vaccine for free through the Vaccine for Children Program. However, uninsured adults could pay as much as $200 for the new vaccine.

Waco resident Carmen Saenz said she got the new vaccine from an H-E-B pharmacy Wednesday.

“It was quick and easy,” Saenz said. “It was free with my insurance.”

A pharmacy representative from the H-E-B on Valley Mills Drive said the location began administering the vaccine Wednesday and was accepting walk-in appointments from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. The cost of a vaccine for uninsured individuals at an H-E-B pharmacy is about $160, the representative said.

Pharmacy representatives for the H-E-B on North 19th Street and Wooded Acres Drive said they would begin administering the vaccine Sept. 4 or sometime during the second week of September, respectively.

Uninsured individuals could pay a lot more for the vaccine at other pharmacies.

A representative for the CVS pharmacy in the Target on Bosque Boulevard said it began administering the new vaccine Aug. 26, and individuals can now schedule an appointment online. CVS is offering the new vaccine for $201 without insurance, the representative said. The new vaccine is also available at the CVS pharmacy on South Fifth Street.

A pharmacy representative for the Walgreens on Bosque Boulevard said the vaccine would be available there sometime during the first week of September, but could not say how much it would cost for uninsured patients.

Some Waco clinics will offer the new vaccine before November. A representative for Waco-McLennan County Public Health District said it would be able to offer the new COVID-19 vaccine by the end of September or early October. The health district will not know the cost of the vaccine for uninsured patients until it receives it, the representative said.

Waco Family Medicine spokesperson Nick Alvarado said the clinic expects to have the latest vaccine by mid-October and the cost could vary.

“The cost will vary based on our sliding fee scale and the type of insurance or aid available,” Alvarado said. “We encourage patients to meet with our eligibility specialists to see what financial help they might qualify for.”

Primary care doctors may choose to offer the vaccine or direct patients to pharmacies. Local physician Dr. Tim Martindale said over email Thursday he is unsure whether his clinic will be able to offer the new vaccine to patients through his clinic’s normal vaccine program.

“We were the first to offer the vaccine in our clinic once it was available and gave it regularly until the government changed the rules and asked us to send everyone to the pharmacy for the COVID vaccine September 2023,” Martindale said. “So we are still going to send anyone who wants it to the pharmacies.”

In September 2023, the U.S. government stopped purchasing COVID-19 vaccines, ending its official Vaccination Program. The program was replaced with the Bridge Access Program, a public-private partnership to help maintain access to free vaccines for adults.

The new COVID-19 vaccine is slightly different than the vaccine individuals could get just a month ago.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved and authorized the emergency use of the new 2024-25 formula for the COVID-19 vaccine on Aug. 22. The updated formula more closely targets currently circulating variants and provides better protection against serious consequences of COVID-19, according to the administration.

The new vaccine includes a monovalent component that corresponds to the omicron subvariant KP.2. KP.2 is one of several omicron subvariants that have been circulating recently.

The CDC recommends everyone ages 6 months and older get one of the 2024-25 vaccines, especially if they have never received a COVID-19 vaccine, are 65 or older, immunocompromised, pregnant or have other elevated risk factors. Unlike previous COVID-19 vaccines, the CDC is not recommending a second shot unless an individual is moderately or severely immunocompromised.

The rollout of an updated vaccine comes after a summer wave of COVID-19 infections. Data of wastewater viral activity from the CDC shows Texas’ levels remain high, but are down from a very high level just three weeks ago. If someone recently had COVID-19, the Centers for Disease Control recommends they wait three months after recovering before getting a vaccine.