Saint Joseph Department of Health approves new Covid and RSV vaccine costs
SAINT JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind. - On Tuesday, the Saint Joseph County Department of Health Board approved administration of the latest Covid vaccine along with a new vaccine to help combat RSV in Saint Joseph County, but it’s now going to come at a cost!
Now that the Coronavirus is no longer considered a health emergency, COVID vaccines are now considered routine, which means the federal government will not cover the cost.
“We have to purchase the vaccine, and in order for us to be able to continue to do that, we have to charge,” explains Dr. Diana Purushothem, Health Officer at the Saint Joseph County Department of Health.
The charge depends on your insurance coverage, and if you don’t have insurance or are underinsured, the health department has programs to administer the vaccine with little to no charge.
The multiple vaccine prices approved are:
- Covid (6 months - 4yrs): $200/dose
- Covid (5-11 years): $100/dose
- Covid (12+ years): $140/dose
- RSV (60+ years or pregnant women 32-36 weeks): $290/dose
- RSV monoclonal antibody (same age as regular RSV vaccine): $520/dose
New county health officer, Dr. Diana Purushothem, says it’s best to think of the COVID vaccinations like getting your seasonal flu shot.
It will help to combat any new strains as well as prime your immune system to any respiratory illnesses in the colder months.
To put it into perspective, flu shots aren’t free either!
The price to get your influenza shot in St. Joseph County can cost anywhere from $45 to $80 a dose.
Best practice is to check vaccine prices before you book an appointment.
“The best way to do it is to reach out to the health department or somebody involved in administering the vaccine and try and figure out how much it would cost you,” advises Dr. Purushothem.
The St. Joseph County Council still needs to sign off on the new payment structure and vaccine plan.
The health officer expects once that's approved, to have vaccines available in the next couple weeks.