Multiple States Expand COVID Vaccine Access Through Pharmacy Orders

Several U.S. states are taking independent actions to ensure broader access to COVID-19 vaccines amid federal restrictions limiting eligibility primarily to older adults and those with underlying health conditions. Massachusetts' Department of Public Health issued a standing order allowing all qualified pharmacies to provide COVID vaccines to a broad group of eligible residents, opposing federal guidance supported by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Pennsylvania followed suit by permitting pharmacists to administer vaccines based on recommendations from major health organizations beyond the CDC, after Governor Josh Shapiro criticized federal restrictions and called for clear state-level action. New Mexico's Health Secretary signed an order to update protocols removing barriers for vaccine access at pharmacies, anticipating resolution of issues caused by federal guidelines requiring prescriptions. Similarly, Colorado issued public health orders creating standing prescriptions for COVID vaccination for residents six months and older, responding to pharmacy chains’ refusal to administer vaccines without prescriptions due to federal policy changes. These state-level efforts highlight ongoing tensions between federal vaccine guidance and local authorities striving to maintain vaccine availability for wider populations.