Respiratory virus vaccinations covered by insurance
Published 2:34 pm Thursday, September 25, 2025
On Sept. 17, Washington Governor Bob Ferguson and the governors of Oregon, California, and Hawaii announced that the recently formed West Coast Health Alliance has issued unified, science-based recommendations for seasonal respiratory-virus vaccinations, including COVID, flu and RSV.
The alliance was created to address concerns about the credibility of vaccine guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) under the Trump administration.
The previous day, AHIP, a national trade association representing many U.S. health insurance companies, announced that through the end of 2026, their health plans would fully cover all immunizations recommended by the CDC’s advisory committee as of Sept. 1 including the updated COVID and flu vaccines.
The governors’ and AHIP’s announcements pre-empted any potential changes in vaccination recommendations by the CDC advisory committee when it met on Sept. 18 and 19.
What this means for Washington residents is that respiratory-virus vaccines can be obtained as in previous years. The vaccines are widely available and fully covered by health insurance.
AHIP noted that their decisions are grounded in rigorous review of scientific and clinical evidence. Their decisions also suggest that the health insurance sector has determined that encouraging seasonal vaccinations is good business: it’s cheaper to pay for vaccinations than hospitalizations resulting from severe respiratory disease.
“The decision by insurance companies to continue to provide full coverage for these important vaccines is a relief,” said Tyler Young, owner of Vashon Pharmacy. “Until now we were unsure if they would. With private insurance companies on board and full coverage by Medicare, Medicare Advantage and Medicaid plans, most people on Vashon will not have to pay out of pocket.”
Financial assistance is available for people on Vashon without health insurance and who cannot pay for the vaccines.
“VashonBePrepared is accepting community donations to help pay for COVID and flu vaccinations,” said Vicky de Monterey Richoux, President of VashonBePrepared. “The pharmacy is generously matching the first $2,500 in donations. We don’t want anyone to go without vaccination because they can’t afford it.”
Online donations can be made at VashonBePrepared.org/help-out and selecting “Vaccines for Uninsured 2025.”
Marijke van Heeswijk is a retired federal scientist who volunteers for VashonBePrepared.
