RFK JR. "Everyone can get" the coffee vaccine. Is this correct?

Grace Abelz, Bolivart and Maria Ramirez Urby, Politifact

“Everyone can get” Covid-19 vaccine.

Robert F. Kennedy Junior on September 4 at the hearing of the Senate Finance Committee

When Health Minister Robert F. witnessed. Kennedy Junior in front of the Senate Financial Committee on September 4, criticized by many Senate members to restrict Covid-19 clips after promised in November that he “will not take the vaccines of anyone.”

“Did you carry a big sign that you were lying when I said that?” Senator Elizabeth Warren (MBC) asked Kennedy.

On August 27, FDA update Her covid VaccineReducing the groups of accredited persons to get the updated snapshot of anyone aged 65 years or older and no less than 6 months old and has at least one health condition, which increases the risk of severe infection.

Kennedy pushed back. He said, “Anyone can get a supporter,” adding later that “healthy people are not recommended.”

Warren said: “If you do not recommend, the result of this in many states is that you cannot walk in a pharmacy and get one. This means that insurance companies do not have to cover the cost of $ 200 or so,” Warren said.

Warren and Kennedy continued to talk about each other, as they discuss the availability of vaccines.

“This depends on the states,” Kennedy said. “But they can still get it. Everyone can get it. Everyone can get it, Senator.”

Upon requesting evidence, the Health and Human Services Department indicated to August 27 On the social platform x of Kennedy who said: “These vaccines are available to all patients who choose them after consulting with their doctors.”

Kennedy blanket statement for Senate Member is misleading and crying.

Under the current guidance, healthy people under the age of 65 may need a medical prescription for the doctor to get the snapshot. If they succeed in obtaining a prescription, they may need to pay.

Moreover, whether the vaccine is available in pharmacies and covered by insurance is largely dependent on a vaccine committee that has not yet issued any recommendations.

What is the current situation for years-that most Americans can specify, regardless of age, an appointment in their local pharmacy of the vaccine at a small or not outside the pocket-is not guaranteed in the 2025-26 season.

Limited approval, no instructions

The approval of the FDA is not the only step in the process of providing vaccines for the public.

The Consultative Committee for Evangelical Practices, a committee of independent experts that guide the policy of the vaccine, did not vote on the current guidance or its issuance. Usually, the centers of control and prevention of diseases recommend vaccines based on Painting instructions.

This guidance affects insurance coverage and access to the vaccine. Federal law requires that most health insurance plans Fully coverage The vaccines recommended by the Disease Control Center. Some countries These recommendations also require before allowing vaccines to be provided with a prescription in pharmacies.

On June 9, Kennedy launched all 17 members of the Consultative Committee for Virtue at the Center for Disease Control Replace some With new members, many of them have expressed the views of the Anti -Qazi. Director of the Disease Control Center Suzan Monares Launched August 27 about what Monares described as a Policy.

According to CDC, the Consulting Committee is It is scheduled to meet From 18 to 19 September.

The access varies according to the case

People in the groups approved by the FDA (FDA) should be able to schedule the vaccinations as soon as the approved health care providers receive supplies, most likely in the next few weeks.

Even if you are in these approved groups, where you can get a coffee shot that varies depending on the case. Under the law, pharmacies in some states will not be able Its recommendations are issued.

This means that although the FDA has issued its approval to some groups, in 18 states and DC, “Pharmacists cannot manage because they are not on the CDC fortification schedule yet”, Brigid Groves, Vice President of the American Pharmacists Association, Previously said politifact.

As of September 4, scheduling applications for Walgrens and CVS have reported patients in some sites that they cannot make a COVID vaccine date due to state restrictions, inventory or the need for a prescription.

“Outside the Naming” recipes

People who are not in the Approved FDA group are not banned from obtaining a Covid vaccine itself. But it is possible that access to the vaccine must move in the barriers.

Doctors can describe the Kofid vaccine for people who fall outside the food and drug management categories.

This is true for adults and children-and the practice of prescribing medicines and vaccines for use “outside the designation” is somewhat common in pediatrics, William Shavener, Professor of Medical Center at Vanderbelt University of infectious diseases, It was previously said Politifact.

This requires determining and paying the doctor’s date, and finding a doctor ready to prescribe it outside the designation.

Depending on the ACIP instructions, pharmacists may be able to vaccinate people and not in a group accredited by the FDA through a process called “Joint clinical decisions“

This means, for example, “If you are 52 years old and healthy, but you want to get the vaccine, you can discuss this with your doctor-make clinical decision-and you can get the vaccine,” said Shavener.

Groes said that pharmacists are doctors who can make joint decisions.

But again, without the recommendations of the Center for Disease Control, “We don’t know if this ruling is still there,” Shavener said.

Waiting for the Center for Disease Control

The insurance coverage of the vaccine remains in the air as well, and it will be largely dependent on the recommendations of the Disease Control Center.

The insurance coverage is more likely for people in a category approved by the Food and Drug Administration. However, if the recommendations of the Disease Control Center include giving vaccines to healthy people through the process of making joint clinical decisions, then insurance companies will generally honor this.

The cost of Covid vaccines is about $ 142, according to Prices of the Center for Disease Control. It is not clear whether this will be the cost that comes out of patients who receive a COVID vaccine that is not covered with insurance.

Our rule

“Everyone can get a Kofid vaccine,” Kennedy said.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) restricted the groups of qualified people to obtain Covid vaccines, which have already reduced the availability of a shot pharmacy in some states. People who are not in these groups are not prevented from getting a snapshot, but they are likely to face additional barriers. For example, people may need a doctor to prescribe the vaccine “outside the designation”, which makes the process more challenging and perhaps more expensive.

A premature Kennedy blanket statement.

The CDC vaccine panel has not released the vaccines. The group’s guidelines may affect insurance and access without a prescription.

The statement contains an element of truth – the vaccine has not been banned and some people were approved to obtain it. But he ignores the critical facts about the barriers that others may face in reaching and paying their price. We are mostly false.

Politifact employee Madison Kezopik contributed to this report.