Will you be able to get a COVID-19 shot? Here's what we know so far

Want a COVID-19 vaccination this fall? For many Americans, it's not clear how easy it will be to get one — and some doctors already see signs of trouble.

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who was a longtime anti-vaccine activist, said last month that the shots are no longer recommended for healthy children and pregnant women, usurping a decision normally made by scientific experts, not political appointees.

Days later, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said healthy children and pregnant women ''may'' get COVID-19 vaccinations, removing stronger language that those groups ''should'' get the shots. Its website currently lists no advice for pregnant women — graying out that section of the vaccine guidance chart.

The change follows an earlier Trump administration step to limit COVID-19 vaccinations among healthy people under age 65.

Until now, the U.S. — following guidance from independent experts who advise the CDC — has recommended yearly COVID-19 vaccinations for everyone age 6 months and older.

Together, the moves have left health experts, vaccine makers and insurers uncertain about what to advise and what comes next.

In Seattle, University of Washington infectious disease expert Dr. John B. Lynch said he recently advised a fellow health care worker who's pregnant to get vaccinated. She agreed, only to be turned away by two pharmacies.

The conflicting statements are also leaving primary care doctors uncertain of how to advise patients, Lynch added.

''I'm not sure when that confusion is going to be abated,'' he said.

How can I get a COVID-19 shot for myself or my healthy child?

Some of this season's vaccine is still available. Insurance industry experts say if people had coverage before Kennedy's announcement, insurance likely would still pay for the shots.

In a move that could help access, Wisconsin's health department announced that state "continues to recommend the current COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy and for every person 6 months and older," and reiterating the its state Medicaid program will continue to cover it.

Who will be able to get what vaccines this fall is still unclear.

Vaccine manufacturers plan to issue updated COVID-19 shots in the late summer or fall. But the Food and Drug Administration has said it plans to limit approval of seasonal shots to seniors and others at high risk, pending more studies of everyone else.

Even if the U.S. approves vaccines only for certain groups, it still may be possible for others to get the shot depending on the outcome of upcoming advisory meetings, regulatory moves and decisions from insurers and employers.

Will my insurance still pay?

Insurers base coverage decisions on the recommendations of that CDC panel, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. It's not clear what role that panel now will play. Paying out of pocket could cost about $200.

Some insurers and employers may decide to still cover the shots no matter what, said Jen Kates, a senior vice president at the non-profit KFF, which studies health care issues. She noted that they may view the expense as worthwhile if it avoids a higher bill from someone hospitalized by the coronavirus.

What's considered increased risk?

The FDA published a list of health conditions it said would qualify, including asthma, cancer, diabetes, obesity and physical inactivity. The CDC has a more extensive list.

But, again, it isn't yet known how this will play out. For example, it could be hard for people to prove they're qualified. If they're vaccinated at a drugstore, for instance, the pharmacist wouldn't normally know about underlying health problems or even ask.

And Ajay Sethi, an epidemiologist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said ''this elephant in the room'' is that blocking vaccination to the healthy may mean people who have a risk factor and simply don't know it will miss out.

COVID-19 complications during pregnancy can include preterm birth as well as serious illness in the mother, and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine said it ''strongly reaffirms'' its recommendation for vaccination during pregnancy. Moreover, vaccinating mom can provide spillover protection for the newborn for a few months, until he or she is old enough for their own vaccination, Lynch stressed.

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Associated Press writer Mike Stobbe contributed to this report.

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