A new COVID vaccine is coming soon – but will it still be free?

(WGN Radio) – American health officials say an updated vaccine against COVID-19 is on the way. The new formula, designed to target the KP.2 strain of COVID, is set to be in pharmacies and doctors offices ahead of the typical fall season rise in respiratory virus transmission.

But as federal programs from the peak pandemic era have come to an end, some are concerned that vulnerable populations with less access to health care will have more trouble finding, or affording, a new dose.

“There was a federal program called the Bridge Access Program that provided about 1.5 million free vaccines,” said Dr. Tom Moran, chief medical officer at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital, in an interview with WGN Radio. “The funding for that program is running down and there’s not going to be the free vaccines. This is really going to affect those clinics that have been providing them.”

The Bridge Access Program helped cover the cost of COVID vaccines for uninsured or under-insured Americans, but it’s coming to an end this month. It was originally scheduled to operate through December 2024, but ran out of funding.

“They’re looking for different funding to help with this, from donations and other sources, to help continue with it,” said Moran. The Biden administration proposed a Vaccine for Adults program to help expand access, but that hasn’t been funded yet either.

“Just remember that children still have a free program through the federal government and anyone on Medicare, Medicaid and/or private insurance still have most of this covered to get a vaccination. It’s the clinics, the free clinics that are out there, that need some additional support to continue to provide vaccinations to the at-risk population,” Moran said.

Listen to the full interview with WGN Radio below:

While adults with private insurance typically have immunizations like the COVID vaccine covered, there are still an estimated 25 million to 30 million adults without coverage for these boosters, the Hill reports.

Those without insurance who want to take advantage of the Bridge Access Program may want to consider getting vaccinated before the program ends at the end of August instead of waiting for the updated formula (though when you time your vaccination is a personal and sometimes tricky decision, doctors say).

The updated booster is expected to be released soon, but an exact date has not been announced.