By Gus Saltonstall
Earlier this week, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that the new COVID-19 vaccine for the 2024-2025 season is now available across the state, including on the Upper West Side.
In August, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved updated COVID vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna that specifically target the KP.2 variant of the virus, which was the most common strand found this past summer.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is recommending that all Americans over the age of six months get the new booster shot to help protect against the expected uptick in cases that occurs in the fall and winter.
“Getting a COVID-19 vaccine is the most effective protection against being admitted to a hospital or suffering from Long COVID, so I’m once again encouraging all those eligible to prioritize their health and get vaccinated,” New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said during a press conference on the issue.
To find a pharmacy to receive the new COVID shot, you can visit vaccines.gov, which will then prompt you to type in your ZIP code.
The Upper West Side has dozens of options, many of which are at CVS, Duane Reade, or Walgreens.
If you’re able to, you’ll want to confirm that the pharmacy where you schedule an appointment has the new booster shot, especially if you are choosing to go to an independent pharmacy.
Almost all private health insurance, along with Medicare and Medicaid plans cover COVID-19 vaccines free of charge. If you are uninsured, or if your coverage does not cover the newest vaccine, you can still receive a free shot through community health centers or local health departments participating in the New York State Department of Health Vaccines for Adults program.
In terms of whether you should wait or get the booster immediately, here’s what The New York Times said.
“Doctors say that some people may want to wait until October to get a shot, so they can get vaccinated against flu at the same time and have better protection this winter. But people who are at higher risk for getting seriously sick from Covid, including those who are pregnant, 65 and older or have underlying medical conditions, likely want to get vaccinated as soon as they can.”
Again, to find where to get vaccinated on the Upper West Side, click here.
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Already got mine, plus a flu shot while I was at it, at the CVS on West 70th St. Appointments were easy to make on the Web site. It was a real production line, two efficient technicians working non-stop out of a tiny space. No insurance questions asked, receipts emailed or spat out of a printer. In and out in 25 minutes, including the ten minutes they request that you sit after the shots to be sure you’re not dizzy or faint. Ignore Bobby Kennedy, Jr and do it!
Same. CVS or Walgreens (RIP Duane Reade) seems to be the best bet. Get online and make an appointment and show up. My arm hurt for a day, but that was the flu shot I got same day.
“No insurance questions asked”? I presume those questions were posed earlier when you set up the appointment via their website, right? Otherwise they’re acting from pure benevolence and I’m inclined to doubt it.
I called DR/Walgreens and they told me the vaccination wasn’t available. Called CVS and they told me to book an appointment online. There was a page for insurance info. In any case, after I rec’d the email confirmation, there was a 2nd email with a cancellation notice. I walked over to CVS after work and they said they didn’t know why my appointment was cancelled but they couldn’t take walk-ins.
Deja vu!
I had my Covid vaccination (Moderna) today at Walgreens at 72 and Broadway. Scheduled it last week online. They didn’t ask for my insurance card, but they probably still have it since I’ve had all my vaccines there for the past 10 years.
Easy-peasy.
Yes, of course you’re right. No benevolence involved. Should have mentioned that. But it was nice not to have to go digging into my bag for insurance cards in the middle of a crowded CVS.
Got mine at the same CVS on 9/1. I was the only one there, and they got to me in about 5 minutes, since they just opened. Very nice tech and very efficient. However, he didn’t tell me to wait when I was done. Maybe because I just got the Covid shot? Anyway, all was good, and I treated myself to an egg and cheese on a roll at the WEA corner Superette. Ya got to keep your strength up! 🙂
Positive comments sponsored by Pfizer….
Or people that aren’t victim to grotesque conspiratorial misinformation and want as many people as possible get this safe, effective vaccine to prevent otherwise preventable illness and death.
If you want to get it then get it—don’t label ppl that aren’t doing it as victims of grotesque conspiratorial misinformation —you are in the 12% that are taking these now—most ppl have seen enough to know it’s not worth it to them
Just got at CVS at 57th Street and 8th Avenue.
The pharmacy staff there are lovely.
That CVS is fairly spacious – there is even a small room for vaccinations
Which pharmacies have Moderna?
Walgreens at 72 and Broadway for sure.
Walgreens? Isn’t that a Duane Reade on Bway/72nd?
Walgreens owns Duane-Reade, and uses Duane-Reade as a brand in the NYC area. The Walgreens website will direct you to the DR store on 72nd.
I recently got my jab and it went really well. I got mine at the old kosher restaurant in the basement of the storefront on 93rd between Bway and West End. There was a man with a walgreen signs that read “JUST THE VAX MA’AM” and he had set up a very clean and efficient distribution facility with real medical providers. He even set up urinals in the vaccination stalls for any patient emergencies.
More than a million Americans dead and you want to be weird about it.
Dunno—they gave out donuts beer and lottery tickets as incentives the first time around—now that was weird
@Donna, DReade w72 (TJ) gives you a choice on the website. I asked before labor day last week when I was there for something else. They prompted you to get other shots while you’re there.
I got the flu and COVID booster(M) that same night, get in line for the pharmacist even if you have booked an appointment. The *New* Spikevax uses a smaller needle and the soreness the next day is less noticeable.
CVS on West End for me too. Made tha appointment on line. Very efficient and painless. I have 4 friends who all got Covid this summer; it’s still out there.
How do the new vaccines compare to the old ones? I had to take the day off work after the shots
Everyone reacts differently. You’re likely to have a reaction similar to those you’ve had before, but it can vary.
Over the ages of 6 months…..wow.
What pharm has the Johnson & Johnson shot?
The J&J shot has been discontinued. It basically wasn’t competitive with the Pfizer and Moderna shots.
https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/15/health/johnson-johnson-covid-vaccine-end/index.html
When I made my appointment at the Walgreens website, I was asked which vaccine (Moderna, Pfizer, or J&J) I wanted. My appointment is this Monday, so I’ll double check to ensure I get the Pfizer, which is the one I’ve gotten all along.
This map is basically worthless. Normally, you should be able to enlarge it to see where the points are. If you try to do that it just toggles between a smaller and larger version of the same map, with no spreading out of the sites so you can see them individually. Also, if you click on one spot, instead of it giving you details of that location, it just toggles back to the other size of the same map. Not useful.
The map on this page is just a photo of the map on https://www.vaccines.gov (link is also in the story). Just click on the link and enter your zip code and you’ll see all the details.
You left off Danny’s Too Pharmacy on West End Avenue
89% of the people hospitalized for Covid-19-associated illness were unvaxed last year. To me, that’s all you need to know. Get it.