The Trump Administration upended COVID-19 vaccine access across Pennsylvania, and as a result, major pharmacies like CVS stopped offering COVID-19 vaccines to all Pennsylvanians – even those over 65 and with underlying health conditions who still meet the newly restricted criteria from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The uncertainty fueled by the Trump Administration’s shifting requirements caused pharmacies to require prescriptions for COVID-19 vaccines in Pennsylvania, a significant departure from the routine access people seeking the COVID-19 vaccine once had.
The Pennsylvania Board of Pharmacy met this week to rectify this situation and bring clarity to Pennsylvanians. Before the Board’s vote, Pennsylvania pharmacists could follow only ACIP’s vaccine recommendations. Following the vote, Pennsylvania pharmacists may now follow the vaccine recommendations of other trusted authorities. The newly approved sources of authority are the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), and the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA). Click here to learn more.