CVS and Walgreens make getting a Covid vaccine a nightmare in many states

Covid infections are rising, but CVS and Walgreens have decided that they will not administer Covid vaccines in more than 12 states. Maggie Astor and Dani Blum report for The New York Times that the companies say that they are motivated by “the current regulatory environment.” Whatever their rationale, they are making people’s lives a nightmare.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has spoken against Covid vaccines, even though they have been shown to be safe and effective, keeping millions of people out of hospital when they get the Covid virus. Thankfully, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved this year’s Covid vaccines. But, the FDA has new eligibility criteria.

The FDA is only approving the Covid vaccine for people over 65 and people at high risk as a result of a medical condition. Older adults and people with disabilities are more likely to be hospitalized and die from Covid. To reduce the risk of illness, Medicare covers the vaccine.

In three states–Massachusetts, Nevada and New Mexico–CVS will not administer the vaccines. In 13 states–Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Utah, Virginia and West Virginia, along with the District of Columbia–CVS will only administer the vaccines to people who have a doctor’s prescription.

Walgreens also is restricting access to the vaccine in 16 states, but not all the same states as CVS. To get vaccines at Walgreens, you need prescriptions in Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, South Carolina, Utah, Virginia, Washington State, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

Some states have passed laws that do not allow pharmacists to administer vaccines unless the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends them. But, the panel is not scheduled to meet any time soon, preventing access to vaccines for many people.

Only after the panel recommends the vaccines will CVS make them easily accessible in every state. Because last year’s vaccine is different from this year’s, CVS and Walgreens await the panel’s recommendation. In 34 states, people can go online and book an appointment if they meet the FDA criteria. They do not need a prescription.

CVS is affiliated with Aetna, which likely saves money if it is not covering the vaccine. Sycamore Partners, a private equity firm, owns Walgreens.

Last year, less than a quarter of all adults in the US got the vaccine.

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