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PeaceWave

(2,064 posts)
Mon Sep 8, 2025, 03:34 PM 9 hrs ago

Welcome to America in 2025, where lying in order to get a Covid vaccination is now a thing...

Nationwide, CVS and Walgreens are now being squirrelly about making available the effective and trusted Covid vaccine we sensible Democrats have all come to know, love and appreciate. I can personally confirm this.

My regular CVS in California told me two weeks ago that the new vaccine wouldn't be in stock until this week. That didn't seem right. But, I didn't have time to quibble over the issue. I have a medical procedure coming up, one for which I'll have to go under anesthesia and the thought of being that vulnerable and unvaccinated grosses me out. Call it latent paranoia having long ago seen the Seinfeld episode where Jerry questions whether he has been inappropriately violated by his dentist, Tim Whatley (played by Bryan Cranston). Who knows what happens when you're out cold? At least I would be vaccinated against Covid. But, I digress. CVS was out of stock. Maybe the Walgreens across town had a supply of my preferred Pfizer juice.

Random Health Condition Generator ----------> https://perchance.org/health-condition

Once at Walgreens - a complete shit show of a store in my area - a pharmacy assistant asked if I had a pre-existing condition warranting getting the vaccine despite being under the age of 65. Initially, I was told that I would need that condition in writing. Asking to speak to the pharmacist, the story suddenly changed to simply having to verbally relay my need to get the shot. With a straight face, I went with the first thing that came to mind. That's right, I quite literally randomly generated a medical condition in order to get a Covid shot. In doing so, I cheated the system by doing something I really hate doing - lying. The pharmacist appeased, I was able to get vaccinated. Welcome to America in 2025, where on the outside you might be an honest man, straight as an arrow, but have to come to Walgreens to be a crook.



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PeaceWave

(2,064 posts)
4. I told the pharmacist I have an autoimmune disorder and paid nothing for the shot.
Mon Sep 8, 2025, 03:51 PM
9 hrs ago

My answer to them would be...Prove I don't have one. Be my guest.

Ms. Toad

(37,653 posts)
5. I hate to tell you this,
Mon Sep 8, 2025, 04:57 PM
8 hrs ago

But the medical systems are so integrated that it is relatively each for them to find out, and for you to be retroactively charged by insurance if they can't coverage.

I've had more than one instance of discovering transfer of information from pharmacy to pharmacy, pharmacy to medical office, and medical office to pharmacy.

PeaceWave

(2,064 posts)
6. I'll take my chances. And, for me at least, this isn't a question of cost. It's a question of access...
Mon Sep 8, 2025, 05:25 PM
7 hrs ago

The first question you're asked is how old you are. They're trying to deny you access to the vaccine if you're under 65.

Ms. Toad

(37,653 posts)
7. I agree there should be no restrictions.
Mon Sep 8, 2025, 05:29 PM
7 hrs ago

I was just responding to your challenge to let them prove it, to make sure you, and anyone following your example, understand how easy it will be for them to prove it.

PeaceWave

(2,064 posts)
8. You're going to love this. I just checked what "conditions" qualify you to receive the shot...
Mon Sep 8, 2025, 05:31 PM
7 hrs ago
The FDA did not specify which conditions qualify; however, the CDC has a list of conditions that increase the risk for severe COVID on its website. These include diabetes, heart disease, asthma, kidney disease, cancer and mental health disorders — as well as lifestyle factors, like "physical inactivity" and smoking.

https://www.today.com/health/coronavirus/covid-vaccine-2025-2026-rcna228529

Physical inactivity for the win! If I would have known this, I'd have told the pharmacist "Just put down couch potato."

Ms. Toad

(37,653 posts)
9. Fantastic.
Mon Sep 8, 2025, 05:41 PM
7 hrs ago

Unfortunately, the requirements for getting the vaccine are going to vary from state to state, until we evict Trump (or RFK Jr) from office.

Iris

(16,604 posts)
14. I don't think the question is the insurance companies not being allowed to cover the cost
Mon Sep 8, 2025, 11:00 PM
2 hrs ago

As much as Not to if they are not compelled by the government.

I would guess most would want to cover it to avoid paying for costly illnesses

Ms. Toad

(37,653 posts)
15. You put too much faith in insurance companies to look beyond the immediate decision.
Mon Sep 8, 2025, 11:28 PM
1 hr ago

My insurance company denied a $500 (IIRC) treatment because although it was proven (and routinely approved) effective outpatient treatment for clot prevention post-surgery, it wasn't yet a standard outpatient outside of the surgical context. They ultimately relented, when my doctors pointed out that denying it meant a minimum of 2 weeks of hospitalization. But their initial response was to deny it. (Within a year or so, it was routinely approved for out-patient clot prevention - the ridiculous denial which I experienced was one of two medical conditions I've had which were featured as ridiculous on TV medical dramas.)

That's not the only personal example of penny-wise, pound-foolish behavior by insurance companies. Generally, unless it is an immediate cost (as mine was), they don't relent. In other words the long-term costly illnesses aren't necessarily going to fall on their pockets - the person they deny a vaccination to may be someone else's problem by the time they have a costly illness.

DET

(2,189 posts)
2. As Far As I'm Concerned
Mon Sep 8, 2025, 03:41 PM
9 hrs ago

More power to you if you can tell a credible lie to get a vaccine that you should have routine access to anyway. This whole thing is ridiculous and infuriating.

Irish_Dem

(73,993 posts)
3. In fascist countries, citizens have to routinely lie to survive.
Mon Sep 8, 2025, 03:47 PM
9 hrs ago

This is what we have become.

keep_left

(3,035 posts)
10. Just be glad you're not in Florida. A DUer reported...
Mon Sep 8, 2025, 06:20 PM
6 hrs ago

...that thanks to the "leadership" in that state, you will need a written doctor's prescription to get a Covid vaccine.

mnhtnbb

(32,766 posts)
13. Here in NC, too.
Mon Sep 8, 2025, 09:26 PM
3 hrs ago

Walgreens requires a prescription, even for over 65. I get mine tomorrow.
My 39 yo son talked his primary doc into writing a prescription for him today and got his vax after work today.

nilram

(3,323 posts)
12. You don't even have to tell them what particular condition.
Mon Sep 8, 2025, 08:54 PM
4 hrs ago

At least, that's the way the rules used to read. My pharmacist said she wouldn't even put the condition in a person's records if they happened to disclose it.

I'll have to ask her how the rules are now, and if that piece of it has changed.

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