Can I still get the "last" COVID vaccine, at the Walmart pharmacy, for instance??

[Jack Valentino]

I am 62 years old, I don't have any officially diagnosed risk factors, although I know I have untreated high blood pressure....

Haven't had a COVID booster since 2022, so I think I'm due for one...

Can I still get the last one, if I act quickly ??


RFK jr's policies say I won't be eligible for the upcoming one,
or at least would be very difficult to get,
since I have not been officially diagnosed by any doctor
for 'risk factors', and am not yet 65 years old...

Suppose I should call Walmart and ask them....

(wouldn't go there normally, but it is the closest location to me, and I have no personal working transportation...)

[tanyev]

1. How's your weight? The CVS list of conditions included having a BMI over 25.

And I don’t think anyone at CVS will take the time to measure height and weight to make sure someone with a BMI of 24 doesn’t sneak in to get vaxxed.

[Jack Valentino]

2. I am not obese or grossly overweight, in my personal opinion,

but weigh more than I would like to---- but I don't own a personal scale at this time....


probably around 210 and six feet tall.... extra weight in the belly...

[tanyev]

3. BMI calculator:

https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/calculate-your-bmi

[Jack Valentino]

5. Thanks! "overweight" but not obese, as I suspected...

I was always quite 'skinny' my whole life---
and still am, except in my "middle".....


"a potato on toothpicks", my mother used to call it....

[stopdiggin]

9. that's the huge problem with the BMI index thing -

doesn't give a flying fajita where you're carrying what - or honestly even whether it is fat or muscle, or a huge bowel obstruction ...
It's more or less just a matter of, "Here's your sign!"

[Bo Zarts]

4. As important .. in my opinion, Jack

Get that high blood pressure treated, stat! Hypertension is a slow (usually), silent killer .. but untreated it goes south quickly. I have a brother five years younger than me (I am 77), who is in End Stage Kidney Disease and is on dialysis. In 2016 he quit his BP meds because he couldn’t afford them. But he could, really.

[Tanuki]

10. I second that about the high blood pressure, Jack.

You are needlessly increasing your risk of having a stroke! Please, please take care of this!

[Skittles]

6. hey

deal with that BP, nothing to mess around with.......

[I_UndergroundPanther]

7. You know the bmi

Was invented by insurance companies right?

[tanyev]

8. I know it's not a very precise measurement of ideal weight or health risk,

but the only thing I care about right now is that I do have a BMI that qualifies me for the new vaccine.

[I_UndergroundPanther]

11. Mine may eliminate me

I hope I can get it regardless

[nilram]

12. You can tell the pharmacist that you're at high risk per CDC and that's it.

Sorry, I can't find the official rules, but they say that you don't have to give the pharmacist a formal diagnosis, or even an informal one. Just say that you have one of the conditions that the CDC identifies as higher risk. My pharmacist told me once that she doesn't ask about a diagnosis, and if someone gives one to her, she doesn't note it on their records.

This isn't the rules that I'm looking for, but it is a CDC list of higher risk conditions: https://www.cdc.gov/covid/risk-factors/index.html. It includes "possibly high blood pressure" so you'd be telling the truth.

IMO, based on the rate of decay of covid immune response, we should be getting the shot twice a year, and over-65s should get it three times a year. I'd have to lie to get it that third time, though I do see "physical inactivity" on the list, so maybe not. I absolutely would not feel any guilt over stretching the truth in this case.

[BigmanPigman]

13. Can I get one if my Prim Care Doctor

gives me an RX for one?

[Ilsa]

14. Try your county health department, as well. Good luck! nt

[Jack Valentino]

15. Thanks to all!