Free COVID-19 vaccines may be harder to find this fall

Updated COVID-19 vaccines are now widely available at many pharmacies, but for New Mexicans who lack insurance, the wait will be longer and supplies less certain.

The New Mexico Department of Health expects to distribute some 6,400 free doses of the new vaccine, with delivery to public health offices likely to begin in early October.

But the state agency will have to shoulder more responsibility this year for vaccinating the estimated 210,000 New Mexicans who lack private health insurance, Medicare or Medicaid.

Pharmacies such as CVS and Walgreens will no longer provide free COVID-19 shots for uninsured people because a federal program that paid for free shots ran out of funding in August.

“I would say about 6,400 (doses) is what we’re expecting, at least for now,” said Andrea Romero, immunization program manager for the New Mexico Department of Health. “We can ask for more, but it’s just not guaranteed.”

The state agency can no longer rely on pharmacies to provide free vaccinations for uninsured people, Romero said.

Getting a COVID-19 vaccine last year was relatively simple. New Mexicans could go to any pharmacy and get a shot regardless of insurance status.

Pharmacies and providers were guaranteed payment through the federal Bridge Access Program, which provided vaccinations for an estimated 1.5 million people in the past year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention launched the Bridge Access Program in September 2023 to provide vaccines for people without insurance.

About 10% of New Mexicans lack any kind of health insurance, including Medicare and Medicaid, according to the Kaufman Family Foundation.

Costly vaccine

COVID vaccines are significantly more expensive than most other vaccines.

The price of a COVID-19 vaccine is $201.99 per dose for those who pay in cash, said Amy Thibault, a CVS spokeswoman.

“Patients can check with their local health department to see if any free or low-cost clinics are being offered in their area,” Thibault said in a written statement. “A patient who does not have insurance has to pay for the vaccine” by cash, check or credit card, she said.

A Walgreens spokesman also recommended that uninsured people contact the state Department of Health and look into eligibility for Medicaid or Medicare.

Unknown is how the changes may affect New Mexico’s meager compliance with COVID-19 vaccinations.

About 16% of New Mexicans received a COVID-19 shot in 2023-2024, according to DOH data. Among New Mexicans who identify as Hispanic, fewer than 10% received a vaccination in the past year.

About 40% of New Mexicans 65 and older received COVID-19 shots in the past year, according to DOH data. Among those under 40, fewer than 8% received a vaccination.

Amy Bachyrycz, vaccine trainer for the New Mexico Pharmacists Association, urged New Mexicans with private insurance, Medicare or Medicaid to get their COVID-19 vaccinations at a pharmacy to help preserve the state’s supply of free vaccine.

“We want to try to direct those people that do have some coverage to the pharmacy and save those outreach clinics for the uninsured and the underinsured,” she said.

The Department of Health offers vaccinations at public health clinics across the state and sponsors outreach events. New Mexicans can schedule a vaccination at vaccine.doh.nm.gov/

“If you don’t have insurance, try to reach out to the public health office, the Department of Health website, or find an outreach event where you can get this at no charge,” Bachyrycz said.

On the bright side, Bachyrycz said she is unaware of any problems in the vaccine supply chain this year.

“There’s been no shortage or manufacturing delay that I’ve seen, so I do believe we’ll have enough COVID and flu vaccine this season,” she said. “The Department of Health does a really good job of replenishing their inventory, and if they need more, ordering more.”

Federal officials last month approved updated COVID-19 vaccines designed to better protect people from the virus that constantly evolves to evade our immune systems.

The Food and Drug Administration action grants emergency use authorization for mRNA shots manufactured by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna that target the KP.2 variant now widely in circulation.

“Even if you’ve had vaccines in the past, we’ve had a lot of different variants and mutations,” Bachyrycz said. “It’s really important to get vaccinated; protect yourself and the loved ones around you.”

Bachyrycz also urged people to schedule a vaccination to help pharmacies calculate demand.

“It’s good to have a reservation to make sure the pharmacy can order what’s needed for the day,” Bachyrycz said.

“I would say the cost to the pharmacy is about maybe two times to three times as much as the cost of a flu vaccine,” she said. “So the pharmacy is not going to have a large amount of extra lying around.”