COVID vaccine chaos: Price discrepancies, canceled appointments, and coverage confusion resolved

Some New York City pharmacies have been canceling COVID-19 vaccine appointments and charging individuals for the shots, despite the vaccine being free for everyone. The issues stem from delayed insurance updates and billing code discrepancies, causing confusion and frustration for those seeking vaccination. City-run sites are launching after pharmacy chains due to the different rollout process for this year's variant. While some independent pharmacies are still waiting for their doses, it is advised to call ahead to pharmacies or doctors to confirm vaccine availability, as not all providers listed on vaccine search engines actually have doses in stock.