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yesterday

Pharmacies Scale Back COVID-19 Shots as State Rules and FDA Limits Narrow Access

Pharmacists are now constrained by state rules after federal labels narrowed eligibility.

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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, will require prescriptions in 16 others depending on age and risk, and cannot give shots at all in Massachusetts, Nevada and New Mexico; Walgreens will vaccinate only where state rules allow.
  • The FDA approved updated 2025–26 vaccines from Pfizer, Moderna and Novavax for seniors and for younger people with qualifying conditions, tightening routine access compared with prior seasons.
  • For children under 5, the FDA withdrew Pfizer’s authorization, leaving Moderna as the option for ages 6 months to 4 years only for those with at least one qualifying medical condition.
  • Guidance diverges this season, with the American Academy of Pediatrics strongly recommending vaccination for children 6 months to 2 years, while the CDC advises shared decision-making with clinicians for healthy children.
  • A KFF poll reports nearly 60% of U.S. adults do not plan to get a COVID-19 shot this fall, as the Infectious Diseases Society of America criticizes the FDA’s narrower labels as limiting access contrary to the evidence.