Virginia Expands Access to COVID-19 Vaccines Without Prescriptions

Strategic Insights -

Virginia's state health official has clarified that older adults and those with certain medical conditions can receive coronavirus vaccines in pharmacies without a prescription. The move aims to increase access to the updated formulation of the COVID-19 vaccine amid a seasonal spike in cases. Pharmacists alone have the authority to administer the vaccine to people age 65 and older, as well as those with risk factors such as diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and mood disorders.

Key Takeaways:

  • Virginia has cleared the way for older adults and those with certain medical conditions to receive coronavirus vaccines in pharmacies without a prescription.
  • The order aims to eliminate uncertainty and streamline vaccine protocols at pharmacies.
  • The updated formulation of the COVID-19 vaccine is now available in Virginia for eligible residents.
  • The order applies to people age 65 and older, as well as those with risk factors such as diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and mood disorders.
  • The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children ages 6 months through 23 months receive a coronavirus vaccination, in part because young children are especially vulnerable to hospitalization if they contract the virus.
  • Prescriptions for the vaccine are not required in Maryland, but access may vary by location.
  • Some pharmacies ask people to attest to having a high-risk condition, which ranges from cancer and heart disease to obesity and being a former smoker.
  • Minute Clinics inside some CVS stores across the country, including in D.C., are offering coronavirus vaccinations without prescriptions.

Statistics:

  • 23% of adults in the US have been vaccinated against the coronavirus authorized for the 2024-2025 fall and winter virus season as of late April (CDC data).
  • 12% of children under 18 have been vaccinated against the coronavirus as of late April (CDC data).
  • 74-year-old Bev Faulkner credits avoiding infection to getting vaccinated about every six months since covid-19 shots first became available in spring of 2021.
  • The District's virus level is "very high", Virginia is "high", and Maryland is "moderate" according to wastewater data tracked by the CDC (as of the last week in August).

Sources:

  • Virginia health commissioner Karen Shelton's statement
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data
  • American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) guidance
  • Maryland public health officials' updated guidance
  • Local news reports and statements from CVS spokesman Amy Thibault and D.C. health spokesman Dorian Walker