CVS Now Requiring Prescriptions for Updated COVID-19 Vaccines in North Carolina and Virginia
RALEIGH, N.C. – North Carolina residents looking to receive the newly authorized 2025–26 COVID-19 vaccines at CVS locations will need a prescription, after the pharmacy giant announced new state-by-state restrictions on availability.
CVS Limits Vaccine Access in 14 States
In a statement, CVS Health said it expects to begin offering the updated vaccine in the coming days but will only provide shots in states where current regulations allow pharmacists to administer them without additional authorization.
For North Carolina, Virginia, and 12 other states, patients will need to first obtain a prescription from a licensed prescriber before being vaccinated at CVS. Other states in this category include Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, New York, Utah, and Washington.
The company confirmed that in Massachusetts, Nevada, and New Mexico, CVS cannot provide the updated vaccines at all due to local regulations.
Federal Advisory Shakeup Adds to Confusion
The announcement comes after Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. dismissed members of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) earlier this summer, replacing them with figures critical of vaccination.
Pennsylvania state Rep. Arvind Venkat warned the move could have far-reaching consequences.
“If ACIP stops recommending certain FDA-approved vaccines, insurers will no longer have to cover them, and critical immunizations that protect children and vulnerable populations from deadly diseases could disappear,” Venkat said.
What CVS Says About the Future
A CVS spokesperson noted the list of states requiring prescriptions could shift as regulations change.
“We’ll administer FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccines in states where legally permitted at CVS Pharmacy and/or MinuteClinic to meet our patients’ needs,” the company said.
Health officials continue to recommend COVID-19 vaccines for all eligible groups, particularly older adults and people with underlying health conditions.
Do you think requiring prescriptions for COVID-19 vaccines makes access harder for North Carolinians, or will it improve safety oversight? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the conversation at SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com.
