CVS and Walgreens limit access to COVID vaccines as required by some state guidelines

CVS and Walgreens are present requiring a medicine oregon are not offering COVID-19 vaccines successful immoderate states arsenic the companies effort to travel authorities guidelines that necessitate approvals from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Food and Drug Administration this week approved vaccines from Pfizer, Moderna and Novavax for each seniors connected Wednesday, but lone for younger adults and children with wellness conditions.

In a statement, CVS said the pharmacy concatenation cannot vaccinate those adjacent with a medicine successful Massachusetts, Nevada and New Mexico owed to authorities laws and regulations.

"Based connected the existent regulatory environment," CVS said it's offering COVID-19 vaccinations successful the pursuing states: Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming. 

CVS said the database of states offering COVID-19 vaccines without a medicine whitethorn alteration astatine immoderate time.

In the different 16 states, CVS said it tin administer a COVID-19 vaccination, depending connected the patient's age, with an authorized prescriber's prescription. 

In a statement, Walgreens said, "With the caller FDA support of the 2025–2026 COVID-19 vaccine, Walgreens is prepared to connection the vaccine successful states wherever we are capable to bash so." 

The FDA's determination to extremity exigency authorization for the Pfizer vaccine for children nether 5 volition bounds vaccine choices for younger children, leaving the Moderna vaccine arsenic the lone vaccine disposable for those 6 months to 4 years aged with astatine slightest 1 wellness condition. Last week, the American Academy of Pediatrics released vaccine recommendations that, for the archetypal clip successful 30 years, disagree from U.S. authorities advice. 

In the guidance published Aug. 19, the AAP said it's "strongly recommending" COVID-19 shots for children ages 6 months to 2 years old. However, the CDC doesn't urge COVID-19 shots for steadfast children of immoderate age, but alternatively says kids whitethorn get the shots successful consultation with a physician.

Sara Moniuszko contributed to this report.

• COVID-19 Vaccine
• Walgreens
• COVID-19
• CVS