KC Reporter

COVID-19 cases are rising in the Kansas City area as students return to school, but questions remain about who should receive updated vaccine doses this year. Recent changes from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have created uncertainty regarding eligibility for the latest COVID-19 vaccines and whether insurance will cover them.

Earlier this year, the CDC stopped recommending annual COVID vaccinations for children and pregnant women. This decision has faced opposition from physician groups representing those populations. There is also speculation that when the Food and Drug Administration licenses this year's vaccine, it may only be recommended for adults 65 and older or people at high risk.

Marvia Jones, director of the Kansas City Health Department, said that if these changes occur, they could affect which vaccines insurance plans will pay for. People who do not meet new criteria might have to pay out of pocket for vaccination.

On August 19, the American Academy of Pediatrics issued its own guidance on COVID vaccination for children in response to the CDC's revised schedule. The organization now recommends that children between 6 months and 2 years old receive the vaccine.

“That’s really important, because we know that the most severe disease happens at the extremes of ages,” said Dr. Angela Myers, a professor of pediatrics in the division of infectious diseases at Children’s Mercy Hospital. “All children under 2 years of age really need to be immunized to be safe.”