People who get a COVID-19 vaccine and then receive a bill shouldn’t pay it, according to the Webster County Health Department.

The vaccine,which is provided by the federal government, is free, according to Kari Prescott, the department’s director.

Those who receive the vaccine should never get a bill or be charged a co-pay, the department reported.

Billing people for a vaccine is a new scam, Prescott said Tuesday.

Not posting an image of a vaccination card on social media is one way to reduce the risk of being targeted by this scam.

Anyone who gets a bill or is charged a co-pay should call the Health Department at 515-573-4107.

Vaccine providers are allowed to charge an administrative fee to insurance companies. However, this fee is not passed on to vaccine recipients, Prescott said.