{"id":5073,"date":"2025-09-18T09:00:24","date_gmt":"2025-09-18T14:00:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/westplexnews.com\/index.php\/2025\/09\/18\/more-states-protect-access-to-the-covid-shot-as-feds-restrict-eligibility-2\/"},"modified":"2025-09-18T09:00:24","modified_gmt":"2025-09-18T14:00:24","slug":"more-states-protect-access-to-the-covid-shot-as-feds-restrict-eligibility-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/westplexnews.com\/index.php\/2025\/09\/18\/more-states-protect-access-to-the-covid-shot-as-feds-restrict-eligibility-2\/","title":{"rendered":"More states protect access to the COVID shot as feds restrict eligibility"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"A<\/p>\n

A child receives a COVID-19 shot in Annandale, Va., in 2021. Virginia is among the states that have parted ways with new federal guidance restricting access to the vaccine. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

At least 17 states have taken steps to ensure broader access to the COVID-19 vaccine since last month, when the federal government significantly restricted eligibility for the shot.<\/p>\n

Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin have issued orders that aim to make it easier for people to get the COVID-19 vaccine. All but Virginia have Democratic governors.<\/p>\n

Together, the moves represent an extraordinary state rebellion against the public health authority of the federal government.<\/p>\n

For decades, states have followed the lead of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on which vaccines Americans should get, and when they should get them. Now, rejecting the antivaccine stance of U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., an increasing number of states say they will rely instead on their own public health experts and professional medical organizations for that advice.<\/p>\n

Previously, the FDA recommended that the COVID-19 vaccine booster be available to anyone 6 months or older. But in August, the federal agency said the booster shot should be limited to two specific groups: people who are 65 and older, and anyone who is at least six 6 months old and has an underlying health condition, such as asthma or obesity, that increases the risk of a COVID-19 infection becoming severe.<\/p>\n

Under the new guidelines, children under 18 without an underlying condition can only get the shot if a health care provider is consulted first, meaning parents can\u2019t simply take their kids to a vaccination clinic or pharmacy.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe American people demanded science, safety, and common sense. This framework delivers all three,\u201d Kennedy wrote on the social media platform X<\/a> on Aug. 27.<\/p>\n

In June, Kennedy ousted<\/a> the entire vaccine advisory committee at the CDC, replacing some of them with vaccine skeptics. The previous month, he announced that the federal government would no longer recommend<\/a> that pregnant women get the vaccine.<\/p>\n

Currently 43 states \u2014 all but Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Oregon, Utah and West Virginia, along with the District of Columbia \u2014 allow pharmacies to administer FDA-approved shots without a prescription, according to Amy Thibault, a spokesperson for CVS Health.<\/p>\n

But the federal government\u2019s new COVID-19 recommendations have sown confusion. Many people are unsure whether their local pharmacy will give them the shot without a prescription \u2014 and if so, whether their health insurance will pay for it.<\/p>\n

In the 17 states that have acted thus far, governors and state public health officials are trying to clear up that confusion, empower pharmacists to administer the shot and, in some cases, mandate that insurers pay for it.<\/p>\n

The latest state to act is Wisconsin. Democratic Gov. Tony Evers signed an executive order<\/a> Monday directing state health officials to create policies that ease vaccine restrictions, and requiring insurers to keep covering the COVID-19 shot.<\/p>\n

\u201cVaccines save lives, folks. Spreading fear, distrust, and disinformation about safe and effective vaccines isn\u2019t just reckless, it\u2019s dangerous,\u201d Evers said in a news release. \u201cRFK and the Trump administration are inserting partisan politics into health care and the science-based decisions of medical professionals and are putting the health and lives of kids, families, and folks across our state at risk in the process.\u201d<\/p>\n

In addition to Wisconsin, Colorado, <\/a>Massachusetts and Rhode Island have required insurers to cover the shot, and Arizona Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs\u2019s executive order calls on state insurance regulators to \u201cencourage\u201d insurers to do so.<\/p>\n

In many of the states, including Arizona, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico and Rhode Island, the governor or the chief public health officer issued a standing order clarifying that pharmacies can administer the vaccine without a prescription.<\/p>\n

Earlier this month<\/a>, New York Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul issued an executive order allowing pharmacies in her state to administer the shot to anyone 3 or older through October 5. The order can be renewed, pending action by the legislature.<\/p>\n

And in Connecticut, Delaware and Pennsylvania, state authorities directed pharmacists to follow the vaccine recommendations issued by professional groups such as the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.<\/p>\n

North Carolina Democratic Gov. Josh Stein issued an order stating that pharmacies can administer the COVID-19 vaccine without a prescription to all adults over 65 and anyone over 18 with a broad range of underlying health conditions. Virginia\u2019s top public health official issued a similar order.<\/p>\n

Earlier this month, the Democratic governors of California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington announced the formation<\/a> of the West Coast Health Alliance to coordinate vaccine recommendations for their states. The states pledged to use guidelines based on advice from leading medical organizations.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Republican-controlled Florida doubled down on Kennedy\u2019s antivaccine stance, announcing plans<\/a> to become the first state to phase out all vaccine mandates, including ending requirements that kids be vaccinated against dangerous diseases before enrolling in schools.<\/p>\n

At a news conference earlier this month, Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo said vaccine mandates are \u201cimmoral.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery last one of them is wrong and drips with disdain and slavery,\u201d Ladapo said of such requirements.<\/p>\n

In Louisiana, Republican U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, who is a physician, suggested last week that state Surgeon General Ralph Abraham should issue a blanket prescription for anyone who wants the COVID-19 shot, the Shreveport Times<\/a> reported.<\/p>\n

Republican Gov. Jeff Landry responded angrily on X<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe last time I checked you have a prescription pad, why don\u2019t you just leave a prescription for the dangerous Covid shot at your district office and anyone can swing by and get one! I am sure big pharma would love you for that one!\u201d Landry wrote.<\/p>\n

Stateline reporter Shalina Chatlani can be reached at <\/em>schatlani@stateline.org<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

This story was originally produced by Stateline<\/a>, which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network which includes Missouri Independent, and is supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A child receives a COVID-19 shot in Annandale, Va., in 2021. Virginia is among the states that have parted ways with new federal guidance restricting access to the vaccine. 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