Overview

• The FDA cleared updated COVID-19 shots only for people 65 and older and for younger patients with at least one high‑risk condition, leaving Moderna as the sole option for some children under five with serious health problems.
• CVS is withholding COVID vaccinations in Massachusetts, Nevada and New Mexico and requiring prescriptions in 13 other states, citing the current regulatory environment and state rules that hinge pharmacists’ authority on CDC recommendations.
• Walgreens is requiring prescriptions in many states and shows limited appointment availability as state laws tying vaccination authority to ACIP guidance constrain on‑site access.
• ACIP is not slated to meet until Sept. 18–19 after a leadership overhaul under HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Sen. Bill Cassidy has urged a postponement, prolonging uncertainty over recommendations insurers and states rely on.
• Insurers say they are awaiting ACIP guidance before broad coverage decisions, while Illinois and a Massachusetts‑led coalition are exploring direct purchases and coordinated pediatric policies to preserve access.