NEW YORK (WPIX) — The largest pharmacy company in the United States is currently not offering COVID-19 vaccines in 16 states.
CVS Pharmacy cannot administer a vaccine without approval from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The 16 regions facing impact include Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, along with the District of Columbia.
Nonetheless, in 13 of these regions, acquiring the COVID-19 vaccine at a CVS remains feasible, though it necessitates an authorized prescription, as per The New York Times.
Residents of Massachusetts, Nevada, and New Mexico will not be able to receive a vaccine at their local CVS regardless of having a prescription.
Amy Thibault, a spokesperson for CVS Pharmacy, told Nexstar’s WPIX:
“We anticipate the receipt of the updated 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccines shortly. We’ll administer FDA-sanctioned COVID-19 vaccines in states where legally permissible at CVS Pharmacy and/or MinuteClinic to address the needs of our patients.”
U.S. regulators sanctioned updated COVID-19 vaccines on Wednesday but curtailed their use for many Americans and excluded one of the two vaccines available for young children.
The redesigned vaccines focus on a more recent strain of the ever-adapting virus and are slated for distribution soon. However, it could take several days or weeks for many Americans to ascertain their eligibility, contingent upon decisions made by federal health advisers, health insurers, pharmacies, and state authorities.
