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2h ago

CVS and Walgreens Scale Back COVID Shots as Patchwork Rules Take Hold

Narrowed federal authorizations push most healthy people to prescriber-only access.

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Medical groups warn that new unclear FDA limitations on who can receive the COVID vaccine may make it harder for postpartum people and healthy children to access the vaccine.
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Overview

  • CVS says it can vaccinate without a prescription in 34 states, requires prescriptions in 16 others, and cannot administer COVID-19 vaccines in Massachusetts, Nevada and New Mexico due to state laws.
  • The FDA authorized updated Pfizer, Moderna and Novavax vaccines for seniors and for younger people with qualifying conditions, limiting routine access for otherwise healthy adults.
  • The FDA ended emergency use of Pfizer’s shot for children under 5, leaving Moderna as the only option for ages 6 months to 4 years with at least one qualifying medical condition.
  • The American Academy of Pediatrics now strongly recommends vaccination for children 6 months to 2 years old, diverging from the CDC’s shared decision-making guidance for healthy kids.
  • The Infectious Diseases Society of America criticized the narrowed approvals as contrary to the evidence and warned of reduced access, as the FDA also demands placebo-controlled trials for further data.