Potential difficulties in securing a COVID-19 vaccination in New York for this year
In the bustling city of New York, parents are eagerly awaiting news about the availability of COVID-19 vaccines for their children. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved multiple updated vaccines, but the question remains: when will these shots be accessible for younger populations?
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has taken a proactive stance, recommending COVID shots for older children who are at higher risk or live with people who are, and for any child whose parent wants them to get vaccinated. They also issued updated guidance last month, categorizing children between six months and two years old as "high risk" for severe COVID and recommending they stay up-to-date on their shots.
However, the situation is far from clear. Some parents, like Brooklynite Emily Hoffman, are struggling to get clear answers from their pediatricians about whether their children will be able to get COVID shots this year. Dr. Jessica Sessions, a pediatrician, echoes this sentiment, stating that doctors are in a state of limbo regarding the availability and insurance coverage of COVID shots for children.
Pharmacies in New York require a non-patient-specific prescription, or "standing order," for each vaccine they offer. In New York City, this standing order can come from the city health department or certain medical providers. Yet, the city and state health departments have not responded to questions about their plans regarding standing orders without ACIP guidance. The state health department in New York is still reviewing the latest federal guidance on COVID vaccines.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services insists that there are no concrete restrictions on access to the COVID vaccine. Nevertheless, the situation seems complex, with insurers still figuring out what their coverage will look like for COVID shots for children, as mentioned by Leslie Moran, a spokesperson for the New York Health Plan Association.
Dr. Philippa Gordon, a recently retired pediatrician, suggests that doctors are unlikely to order a large supply of COVID shots if they're not sure they will get reimbursed for administering them. This uncertainty adds to the mix, further complicating the process.
Tribeca Pediatrics, a pediatric group with locations across the city, is awaiting final recommendations from ACIP before administering COVID shots to children. CVS and Walgreens will administer the new COVID shots in New York, but patients now need a prescription from a doctor.
New York continues to experience periodic surges of the virus, and thousands of New Yorkers are living with long COVID. As of April, about 15% of New York kids were up-to-date on their COVID shots, similar to the previous year. However, the current level of COVID detected in the wastewater in New York state is low, according to the CDC.
The city health department plans to continue following the science and assess the situation together with NYS and other experts. They will issue updated guidance regarding COVID-19 vaccination in the upcoming weeks. The anticipation among parents and healthcare providers alike is palpable, as they wait for the green light to protect more of the city's children from the ongoing pandemic.
