サンディエゴの住民、新型コロナワクチンの入手に困難
canceled appointments, insurance issues, even Medicare patients have had difficulty accessing co vaccines recently. The Centers for Disease Controls Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices is scheduled to meet next week. The group known as ASIP helped set vaccine recommendations nationwide. Justinda Abdul Muta Kabir is a pharmacist who runs vaccine clinics in underserved areas. She says the delayed meeting is part of the problem for her patients. They are unable to get vaccines through our clinic because the San Diego County needs an ASIP recommendation to be able to provide those vaccines to patients. The county says it hasn’t received doses of the new vaccine yet, but they are monitoring updates through the state. Abdul Mutabir says clinic staff now have to pre-check insurance to avoid surprise bills. It’s leaving some patients like those on medical and Medicare in limbo. Some plans do have stipulations where they require that ASIP recommendation for us to provide that vaccine and for people to be able to receive it free of charge. Medicare says it covers the vaccine at no cost. Buties and clinics are still updating billing systems causing gaps in coverage. People under 65 without high-risisk health conditions can’t get the shot under the current guidelines unless their doctor steps in. I am a patient’s advocate. We want to do the best for our patient and sometimes that means what’s called prior authorization. Dave Smith is an infectious disease doctor at UC San Diego Health. He says doctors can sometimes write a prescription and work with insurance to get the shot covered. Sometimes what I have to do is go back to her insurance company and say, “I really think she needs this because X, Y, and Z.” In California, CVS says patients can get the new vaccine with a prescription. The out-ofpocket cost is nearly $225, but until ASIP issues guidance, broader access is on hold. Hospitals are waiting, too. Sharp Health and Kaiser say they’ll move forward with administering the new shots once CDC guidance is finalized. Scripps expects the new vaccines this week, but says they won’t give shots until the rules are clear. For now, experts say ask your doctor for a prescription, confirm coverage, or get other seasonal shots like flu and RSV. I would say continue to mask, continue to to, you know, to keep that that social distancing. Um, I would say make sure that you’re washing your hands minimum of 20 seconds, soap and water. Experts hope that once ASIP’s recommendations are issued, access to the new boosters will open more widely across San Diego. Heidi DeMarco, KPBS News. Discussion.
After several weeks of rising covid cases in San Diego County, numbers are starting to dwindle. The recent surge has prompted people to get vaccinated. But KPBS health reporter Heidi de Marco says San Diegans trying to get a COVID vaccine now are running into obstacles.