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CVS Health does not currently plan to offer the updated annual vaccine COVID-19 vaccine in more than a dozen states, citing the current “regulatory environment” after the updated shots receiving approval for high risk groups this week.
A spokesperson for CVS said in a statement that “based on the current regulatory environment,” the pharmacy chain will not offer COVID-19 vaccinations as normal in the following states and territories: Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia.
Customers can, however, still access the updated COVID-19 vaccines in most of these regions if they present an “authorized prescriber’s prescription.” But CVS will not offer COVID-19 vaccines at its locations in Massachusetts, Nevada and New Mexico.
Seasonal vaccines typically don’t require prescriptions, being available to the demographics who are eligible for the shots.
Earlier this week, the Food and Drug Administration approved the updated COVID-19 vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer for seniors and people with at least one underlying condition that puts them at high risk for severe outcomes from COVID-19. Moderna’s shot was approved for people in this cohort aged between six months of age and 64 years and Pfizer’s was approved for people between 5 and 64 years.
Prior to this, vaccinated people 6 months and older were eligible for at least one dose of either Moderna or Pfizer’s updated COVID-19 shots. Despite this narrowed indication, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said on social media that these vaccines would be available for “all patients who choose them after consulting with their doctors.”
