Since May of this year, reported cases of COVID-19 have rapidly increased in Cuyahoga County and beyond. The updated vaccine, which was formulated with the latest variants of the virus in mind, arrived this month. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends everyone age six and older get the updated vaccination now as infection numbers continue to grow nationwide.
According to Ohio Department of Health Director Bruce Vanderhoff, the current dominant subvariants, which are of the Omicron variant, are more contagious than the original COVID-19 strain, but have proven to be less dangerous.
“The fact that the virus is more transmissible really should be something that we take seriously. Even if you have only mild symptoms of COVID, it certainly can disrupt your life. So, hopefully you’ll be conscious of staying away from others while you’re sick,” Vanderhoff said during a recent press conference.
We heard your questions, comments and concerns about the current state of COVID-19. Have other questions we don’t answer below? You can send them to [email protected].
Where can I get the new COVID-19 vaccine?
Most pharmacies in Greater Cleveland, including Walgreens, CVS, MetroHealth, Dave’s, Walmart and Giant Eagle, are currently offering COVID-19 and flu shots.
Additionally, you can schedule an appointment with your primary care physician to get the vaccines.
Find a list of vaccination locations at vaccines.gov.
How much does it cost to get the COVID-19 vaccine?
While the COVID-19 booster is covered for those with health insurance, millions of uninsured Americans were surprised to learn in August of 2024 that the vaccine is no longer available for free for everyone.
That’s because a CDC program called the Bridge Access Program expired in August due to a lack of funding. The CDC reported 1.5 million Americans participated in the program to get a vaccine last year.
For uninsured residents, the booster can cost up to $200, depending on the pharmacy.
“We’re back to ‘business as usual’ with too many costs and hurdles for our residents now that the emergency phase of the pandemic is over,” Cleveland Department of Public Health (CDPH) Director Dr. Dave Margolius told Signal Cleveland.
For uninsured people under the age of 18, the federal Vaccines for Children Program (VCP) is still offering free COVID shots.
There are 108 facilities in Cuyahoga County that are currently participating in VCP. Among them are private practices, including with the Cleveland Clinic, MetroHealth and University Hospitals, CDPH centers, school health centers, federally qualified health centers such as Northeast Ohio Neighborhood Health Services and more.
Find the full list of participating providers below for facility phone numbers to make an appointment.
How often does the CDC recommend getting the COVID-19 vaccine?
Similar to getting an annual flu shot, the CDC currently recommends getting one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine each year. This means that anyone aged six months or older who has not gotten the vaccine as of June 2024 is eligible to receive the updated shot.
Exceptions include anyone who has recently been sick with COVID. Those who were infected should wait 90 days before getting the vaccine.
Current guidelines from the CDC say that the contagion period of the virus is most prevalent in the first few days of infection, even before symptoms. At most, those who have COVID can transmit it 10 days after symptoms start.
The U.S. government is expected to roll out a program to ship out more free COVID-19 testing kits this month. We will update this article when people are able to order testing kits by mail.
Until then, stay safe and healthy, Clevelanders.
