A child receives a Covid-19 vaccine in Annandale, Virginia, in 2021. Virginia is among the states that have parted ways with up-to-date federal guidelines limiting access to the vaccine. (Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
At least 17 states have taken steps to provide greater access to the Covid-19 vaccine since last month, when the federal government significantly restricted vaccine eligibility.
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 aimed at making it easier for people to get vaccinated against Covid-19. All but Virginia have Democratic governors.
Collectively, these moves constitute an extraordinary state rebellion against federal public health authorities.
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 what vaccines Americans should get and when they should get them. Now, rejecting U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s anti-vaccination stance, a growing number of states say they will instead rely on their own public health experts and professional medical organizations.
Previously, the FDA recommended that a booster dose of the Covid-19 vaccine be available to anyone 6 months of age or older. However, in August, the federal agency said the booster vaccine should be confined to two specific groups: people 65 and older and anyone at least six and six months ancient who has underlying conditions, such as asthma or obesity, that boost the risk of severe Covid-19 infection.
Under the up-to-date guidelines, children under 18 without underlying health conditions can only receive the vaccine after consulting a health service, meaning parents cannot simply take their child to a vaccination clinic or pharmacy.
“The American people have demanded science, safety and common sense. This framework provides all three,” Kennedy wrote on the social media platform X August 27.
Kennedy in June ejected the entire CDC vaccine advisory committee, replacing some of them with vaccine skeptics. Last month he announced that the federal government would do so I don’t recommend it anymore that pregnant women will be vaccinated.
Currently, 43 states – all except Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Oregon, Utah and West Virginia, as well as the District of Columbia – allow pharmacies to administer FDA-approved shots without a prescription, according to Amy Thibault, a spokeswoman for CVS Health.
However, up-to-date recommendations from the federal government regarding Covid-19 have caused confusion. Many people are unsure whether their local pharmacy will give them an over-the-counter shot, and if so, whether their health insurance will cover it.
In the 17 states that have taken action so far, governors and state public health officials are trying to clear up the confusion, authorize pharmacists to administer the shots and, in some cases, require insurers to pay for it.
The latest state to take action is Wisconsin. Democratic Gov. Tony Evers signed it executive order Monday directs state health officials to create policies easing vaccine restrictions and requires insurers to continue covering the cost of the Covid-19 vaccine.
“People, vaccines save lives. Spreading fear, distrust and misinformation about safe and effective vaccines is not only reckless, it is dangerous,” Evers said in a press release. “RFK and the Trump administration are incorporating partisan politics into science-based health care and physician decisions, while putting the health and lives of children, families and people across the state at risk.”
Except Wisconsin, Colorado, Massachusetts and Rhode Island required insurers to cover the costs, and an executive order from Democratic Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs calls on state insurance regulators to “encourage” insurers to do so.
In many states, including Arizona, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico and Rhode Island, the governor or chief public health officer has issued a standing order clarifying that pharmacies can administer the vaccine without a prescription.
Earlier this monthNew York Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul issued an executive order allowing pharmacies in her state to administer the vaccine to anyone 3 years of age or older by Oct. 5. The order may be renewed pending action by the Legislature.
And in Connecticut, Delaware and Pennsylvania, state officials have directed pharmacists to follow vaccine recommendations from professional groups such as the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
North Carolina Democratic Gov. Josh Stein issued an executive order stating that pharmacies can administer the Covid-19 vaccine over the counter to all adults over the age of 65 and anyone 18 or older with a wide range of underlying health conditions. Virginia’s top public health official issued a similar order.
Earlier this month, the Democratic governors of California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington announced the formation with the West Coast Health Alliance to coordinate vaccine recommendations for their states. States have committed to using guidelines based on advice from leading medical organizations.
Meanwhile, Republican-controlled Florida doubled down on Kennedy’s anti-vaccination stance with an announcement plans become the first state to roll back all vaccine mandates, including eliminating the requirement that children be vaccinated against unsafe diseases before enrolling them in school.
At a press conference earlier this month, Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo said vaccination mandates are “immoral.”
“Each of them is inappropriate and dripping with contempt and slavery,” Ladapo said of such demands.
In Louisiana, Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy, who is a physician, suggested last week that state Surgeon General Ralph Abraham issue a blanket prescription to anyone who wants to be vaccinated against Covid-19, Shreveport times reported.
Republican Gov. Jeff Landry responded angrily X.
“Last time I checked to see if you had a prescription pad, why don’t you just leave the prescription for the dangerous Covid shot at your county clerk’s office and anyone can swing by and buy it! I’m sure big pharma would be thrilled for that prescription!” Landry wrote.
Stateline reporter Shalina Chatlani can be reached at: schatlani@stateline.org
This story was originally produced by Statisticswhich is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network that includes Pennsylvania Capital-Star, and is supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.
