At a Harrisburg pharmacy Thursday, Pennsylvania Health Secretary Dr. Debra Bogen and Insurance Commissioner Michael Humphreys rolled up their sleeves for covid shots to underscore the vaccine’s continued availability.

“Today I want to encourage everyone who is six months or older to talk to a health care provider or pharmacist and get the updated covid-19 vaccine,” Bogen said. “I want to start by clearing up any confusion about the availability of the updated covid-19 vaccine here in Pennsylvania, the vaccine … is readily available and recommended.”

The maneuver was part of an event to illustrate the widespread availability of the covid vaccine in Pennsylvania during this year’s respiratory virus season, after new federal guidelines on booster shot recommendations were feared by some to limit availability and create confusion.

In August, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved covid vaccines with restrictions that limited booster access to people age 65 and older or living with certain underlying health conditions that increase severe disease risk.

On Monday, TribLive reported that to combat the Trump administration’s new covid vaccine policy, Gov. Josh Shapiro signed an executive order that the state would instead follow medical guidelines provided by a group of established medical associations: the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists — which recommended routine immunizations for all children, pregnant women and adults.

“In the last few weeks, we have had numerous communications, interactions with patients and colleagues many of whom raised questions or concerns about vaccines and vaccine eligibility… the fact is now is the ideal time to get vaccinated to ensure the most protection for this upcoming season,” said Paul Bowers, a See-Right Pharmacy manager. He administered the shots to Bogen and Humphreys.

Thursday’s event comes after months of heated contention between U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a vaccine skeptic, and Pennsylvania’s medical community.

Last month, Pennsylvania announced that it had joined Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York State, Rhode Island and New York City to launch the Northeast Public Health Collaborative, which is designed to work together on public health emergency preparedness and response as well as vaccine schedules.

During the news conference, Bogen said that the vaccine was available to everyone without a prescription and will remain cost-free to insured Pennsylvanians through December 2026.

Anyone who has comprehensive major medical health insurance — such as Medicare, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, or the Pennsylvania Employees Benefit Trust Fund — can receive the covid vaccine free of charge at an in-network provider, Humphreys said.

The open enrollment period for individual market coverage for 2026 will run from Nov. 1 through Dec. 31 for coverage beginning in January, he said.

“Cost shouldn’t be an obstacle to any Pennsylvanian who wants the covid-19 vaccines. Pennsylvania’s should not forgo the covid vaccine because they feel they might get an unexpected charge .. your health insurer must cover the full cost of recommended vaccines,” Humphreys said.

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