COVID vaccines are free, FTC reminds, so don’t pay for them!

Keidy Ventura, 17, receives her first dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine in West New York, N.J., Monday, April 19, 2021. Ventura wanted to get the vaccine as soon as possible to protect her multi-generational family that she lives with. New Jersey is opening up COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to those 16 or older beginning today; only the Pfizer vaccine is authorized for teenagers younger than 18. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

FTC Offers Reminder: You Don’t Have To Pay For A Vaccine Shot The FTC has issued another warning to watch out for vaccine scams. This time, it’s a simple one: COVID-19 vaccine shots are free – so if someone tries to charge you money for one, it’s a scam. The agency encourages you to ignore any online ads or social media posts offering to sell you the vaccine, and warns never to share personal or medical information with people you don’t know. State and local health departments are the most reliable way to find a vaccine shot. All U.S. adults are eligible to receive the vaccine as of this week. Have you encountered any vaccine-related scams?