Sept. 22—The latest version of the COVID-19 vaccine is now widely available at many pharmacies, but uninsured New Mexicans will face longer wait times and uncertain supplies.
The New Mexico State Department of Health plans to distribute approximately 6,400 doses of the new vaccine free of charge, with deliveries to public health departments expected to begin in early October.
But state officials must shoulder the added responsibility this year of vaccinating about 210,000 New Mexicans who don’t have private health insurance, Medicare or Medicaid.
Pharmacies including CVS and Walgreens will stop giving free COVID-19 vaccines to the uninsured after funding from a federal program that covers the cost of the free vaccinations dried up in August.
“At least right now, we can expect about 6,400 doses,” said Andrea Romero, immunization program manager for the New Mexico Department of Health. “We can ask for more, but it’s not guaranteed.”
Romero said state officials can no longer rely on pharmacies to administer free vaccinations to the uninsured.
Getting a COVID-19 vaccine was relatively easy last year: New Mexico residents could go to any pharmacy to get a shot, regardless of whether they had insurance.
Pharmacies and health care providers are guaranteed payment through the federal Bridge Access Program, which has provided vaccinations to an estimated 1.5 million people over the past year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention launched the Bridge Access Program in September 2023 to provide vaccines to people who are uninsured.
About 10 percent of New Mexicans do not have any type of health insurance, including Medicare or Medicaid, according to the Kauffman Family Foundation.
Expensive vaccines
The COVID vaccine is significantly more expensive than most other vaccines.
The COVID-19 vaccine costs $201.99 per dose if paid by cash, CVS spokeswoman Amy Thibault said.
“Patients can contact their local health department to see if there are any free or low-cost clinics being offered in their area,” Thibault said in a written statement. “Patients who are uninsured must pay for the vaccine by cash, check or credit card,” he said.
A Walgreens spokesperson also encouraged uninsured people to contact their state health department to find out if they qualify for Medicaid or Medicare coverage.
It’s unclear how the change will affect New Mexico’s paltry compliance with COVID-19 vaccinations.
According to Department of Health data, about 16% of New Mexicans have received a COVID-19 vaccination in 2023 and 2024. Fewer than 10% of New Mexicans who identify as Hispanic have received a vaccination in the past year.
About 40% of New Mexico residents age 65 and older have received a COVID-19 vaccination in the past year, according to Department of Health data. Fewer than 8% of those under 40 have received a vaccination.
Amy Batilits, a vaccine trainer with the New Mexico Pharmacists Association, urged New Mexicans with private insurance, Medicare or Medicaid to get their COVID-19 vaccinations at pharmacies to help preserve the state’s free vaccine supply.
“We want to direct people who have some sort of insurance to the pharmacy and leave the outpatient clinics for the uninsured and underinsured,” she said.
The Department of Health is administering vaccinations at public health clinics across the state and sponsoring outreach events. New Mexicans can schedule an appointment to get vaccinated at vaccin.doh.nm.gov/.
“If you don’t have insurance, contact your public health department or the Ministry of Health’s website or look for outreach events where you can get insurance for free,” Batilits said.
On the bright side, Bakilic said he is not aware of any issues with the vaccine supply chain this year.
“From what I’ve seen, we haven’t seen any shortages or manufacturing delays, so I’m confident we’ll have enough COVID-19 and flu vaccines this season,” she said. “The Department of Health has done a very good job of replenishing stocks and also ordering more when more is needed.”
Federal officials last month approved improved COVID-19 vaccines designed to better protect people against a virus that is constantly evolving to evade our immune systems.
The Food and Drug Administration action granted emergency use authorization for mRNA vaccines made by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna Inc, which target the KP.2 variant currently in widespread circulation.
“Even if you’ve been vaccinated in the past, there are different variants and mutations happening,” Bakirits said. “It’s really important that you get vaccinated to protect yourself and the people you care about.”
Bacilich also urged people to make appointments to get vaccinated so pharmacies can calculate demand.
“It’s good to have an appointment so the pharmacy can order what they need that day,” Batilits said.
“I would say the cost to the pharmacy is probably two to three times the cost of the flu vaccine,” she said, “so pharmacies aren’t going to have a ton of excess.”
