Montgomery County is logging 12 to 18 new COVID-19 infections per 100,000 residents each week. The Pennsylvania Department of Health called that rate "significantly above" the statewide average, The Reporter reported Sunday, Sept. 13.
Hospitalization numbers in the county also exceed the state average, according to the health department. For residents of Whitemarsh, Plymouth and Whitpain townships, the data signals a fall COVID wave already underway across the region.
Neighboring Bucks County is seeing an even steeper rate of 15 to 20 new cases per 100,000 residents weekly. The CDC said in an Aug. 28 update that COVID-19 infections were growing or likely growing in 48 states.
Updated vaccines arriving this month
Updated COVID-19 vaccines targeting the XFG variant are expected at doctors' offices, hospitals and clinics across the region later in September. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized the 2026–27 formula as a single-strain shot built around XFG, a JN.1-lineage subvariant that was the dominant coronavirus strain when formulas were selected in May.
Some pharmacies, including CVS and Walgreens, may already have supply, Ars Technica reported.
Who qualifies
The FDA recommended the shots for everyone 65 and older. Younger people qualify if they have at least one condition that raises their risk of severe illness, including asthma, diabetes, obesity, heart or lung disease and pregnancy.
Eligibility for younger patients varies by product:
- Moderna Spikevax: high-risk patients 6 months and older
- Pfizer-BioNTech: ages 5 and older
- Moderna mNexspike and Novavax: ages 12 and older
Insurance and cost
Medicare Part B covers the updated vaccine with no copay when administered by a participating provider. Major private insurers have agreed to continue covering previously recommended vaccines at no charge through at least the end of 2027, according to Ars Technica.
The CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has not met this year because of ongoing federal litigation, leaving formal 2026–27 vaccination recommendations in limbo. Without that guidance, some plans may not cover the shot automatically. Residents should confirm coverage with their insurer before scheduling an appointment.
CVS and Walgreens have said they will continue to let people under 65 self-attest their eligibility, according to Ars Technica.
What to do
Residents can check with local pharmacies or their primary care provider for vaccine availability. The Montgomery County Office of Public Health posts updated case data and vaccine information on its website.
Montgomery County has recorded 166,215 total COVID-19 cases since the start of the pandemic, according to state data published Sept. 13.
