Are COVID vaccines still free?

In this article:

• How much does the COVID vaccine cost without insurance?
• Compare COVID-19 vaccine prices
• How much is the COVID-19 vaccine with insurance?
• How to get the COVID-19 vaccine without insurance

In this article

• How much does the COVID vaccine cost without insurance?
• Compare COVID-19 vaccine prices
• How much is the COVID-19 vaccine with insurance?
• How to get the COVID-19 vaccine without insurance

During the COVID-19 pandemic, broad immunization was key, so the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provided funding for free vaccines. But since then, the COVID-19 virus has evolved and new boosters have helped prevent different variants. Yet in 2023, federal funding ceased. That means people had to rely on their insurance plan for coverage.

And while COVID-19 vaccines are still typically free for people who have health insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid, uninsured individuals may still need to pay $80–$200 and up for it. That price can vary based on the brand, pharmacy, location, and more. We’ve outlined all the important details below.

RELATED: COVID-19 vaccine prices & coupons

How much does the COVID vaccine cost without insurance?

Just like during the pandemic, multiple COVID-19 vaccines are still available, and the price may depend on which one you get. According to the CDC, there are three different brands on the market: Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech, and Novavax. 

“All COVID-19 vaccines currently available are highly effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalizations, and death,” says Francesca Ceddia, Chief Medical Affairs Officer at Moderna. But different pharmacies may only offer certain ones, so check with your pharmacy first if you’re interested in a specific brand.

Moderna

Moderna’s standard adult vaccine is called Spikevax and requires a single vaccine dose for adolescents and adults. “Spikevax is approved for use in individuals aged 12 years and older and authorized for emergency use in children aged 6 months through 11 years,” Ceddia says. “Moderna is also seeking regulatory approval for its next-generation COVID-19 vaccine, mRNA-1283, which is designed to provide enhanced protection, especially for older adults.”

Spikevax is an mRNA vaccine, which means “it works by using messenger RNA (mRNA) to instruct cells in the body to produce the spike protein found on the surface of the SARS-CoV-2 virus,” Ceddia says. “This triggers an immune response, teaching the body to recognize and fight the virus if encountered in the future.” Spikevax’s clinical trials showed a 94.1% efficacy rate for combating COVID-19. This effectiveness may also decrease over time, although boosters can bolster it.

For anyone paying entirely out of pocket for Spikevax, the average cost is $255 per dose, while the vaccine for children ages 6 months through 11 years is $222 per dose.

Pfizer-BioNTech

Approved in 2021, the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is called Comirnaty. It’s available to people ages 12 and up, and there are versions for children too, but the dosing schedule depends on the child’s age. Children aged 6 months to 4 years need three doses, while children ages 5–11 years old only require one (unless they are moderately or severely immunocompromised).

Like Spikevax, Comirnaty is an mRNA vaccine, and its initial clinical trials concluded that it’s 95% effective against the virus that causes COVID-19, although this effectiveness may decrease over time, which is why the company has introduced boosters.

Without insurance coverage, the price for Comirnaty can reach $276 per 0.3 mL of 30 mcg/0.3 mL dose. Its vaccines for children are somewhat cheaper: around $156 per 0.3 mL of 10 mcg/0.3 mL dose for ages 5–11 years and $84 per 0.3 mL of 3 mcg/0.3 mL dose for ages 6 months–4 years.

Novavax

The Novavax COVID-19 vaccine was approved in 2022, slightly later than its two counterparts, and it’s only approved for people ages 12 years and older, not children. It requires two doses, one three to eight weeks after the other.

However, Novavax isn’t an mRNA vaccine like Comirnaty or Spikevax. Rather, it’s a protein adjuvant. So instead of telling the body’s cells to create certain proteins, it contains certain COVID-19 proteins itself—although it can’t actually cause the disease. This triggers the immune system to create antibodies, essentially training it to fight the virus itself. Novavax’s Phase 3 clinical studies showed an 89.7% efficacy rate against the COVID-19 virus and 100% effectiveness against moderate and severe illness from the disease.

While its mechanism of action is different from its competitors, Novavax’s out-of-pocket price is fairly similar. On average, it costs $239 per 0.5 mL of 5 mcg/0.5 mL dose.

Compare COVID-19 vaccine prices
Drug name	Who the vaccine is for	Price without insurance of brand-name drug	SingleCare price	Savings options
Pfizer-BioNTech (Comirnaty)	Ages 12 and older	$276 per 0.3 ml of 30 mcg/0.3 mL dose	$141 per 0.3 mL of 30 mcg/0.3 mL dose of brand-name Comirnaty	See latest prices
Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine 5–11y	Ages 5 months to 11 years	$156 per 0.3 mL of 10 mcg/0.3 mL dose	$99 per 0.3 mL of 10 mcg/0.3 mL dose of brand-name vaccine	See latest prices
Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine 6m–4y	Ages 6 months to 4 years	$84 per 0.3 mL of 3 mcg/0.3 mL dose	$63 per 0.3 mL of 3 mcg/0.3 mL dose	See latest prices
Moderna (Spikevax)	Ages 12 and older	$255 per 0.5 mL of 50 mcg/0.5 mL dose	$141 per 0.5 mL of 50 mcg/0.5 mL dose of brand-name Spikevax	See latest prices
Moderna pediatric vaccine 6m–11y	Ages 6 months to 11 years	$222 per 0.25 mL of 25 mcg/0.25 mL dose	$141 per 0.25 mL of 25 mcg/0.25 mL dose of brand-name vaccine	See latest prices
Novavax	Ages 12 years and older	$239 per 0.5 mL of 5 mcg/0.5 mL dose	$141 per 0.5 mL of 5 mcg/0.5 mL dose of brand-name Novavax	See latest prices

Prescription drug prices often change. These are the most accurate medication prices at the time of publishing. The listed price without insurance references the price of brand-name drugs (unless otherwise specified). The listed SingleCare price references the price of generic drugs if available. Click the link under “Savings options” to see the latest drug prices.

How much is the COVID-19 vaccine with insurance?

COVID-19 vaccines “should be covered by any insurance that covers any other vaccine,” says Amy Edwards, MD, FAAP assistant professor at the CWRU School of Medicine. “If your insurance covers you to get other vaccines they will cover this one too (think the yearly flu shot). If your insurance doesn’t cover your yearly flu shot then they probably won’t cover COVID either.”

The amount of coverage you’ll receive, however, can vary based on the insurance plan. Some plans, Medicare plans, might cover the full cost as long as your healthcare provider administers the shot. Yet other plans might only cover part of the cost. To know for sure, you’ll need to check your specific insurance plan.

How to get the COVID-19 vaccine without insurance

Not everyone has insurance, but the good news is that there are still ways to get COVID-19 testing and vaccinations at an affordable price, even without coverage. Here are a few.

1. Use a SingleCare discount card

SingleCare offers coupons for more than 80,000 different drugs, including COVID-19 vaccines. After signing up for free, just present the card at a participating pharmacy and they’ll apply the savings. Comirnaty, for example, costs around $276 out of pocket, but SingleCare coupons can bring that price down to $141. Likewise, Spikevax costs around $255 out of pocket, but just $141 with SingleCare.

2. State-sponsored vaccination programs

Some state and local health departments have programs that provide free or discounted 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccines to uninsured individuals. However, different states and health departments may have different eligibility requirements or procedures, so you’ll have to contact your state’s health department and ask how to get free vaccines.

3. Find a HRSA-supported health center

The federal government’s Health Resources & Services Administration funds public health centers across the country that provide medical services, regardless of the patient’s ability to pay. Many of them provide updated COVID-19 vaccines, so it’s just a matter of finding one near you and scheduling a vaccine appointment (some may also accept walk-ins).

4. Look into Vaccines for Children (VFC)

This is a program that provides free vaccines for children whose families need help paying for them. This applies to COVID-19 vaccines, as well as RSV vaccines, flu vaccines, and others. Children who are uninsured, Medicaid-eligible, Medicaid-enrolled, or underinsured all qualify for the program, as do children who are Native American.