Lead: On Aug. 29, 2025, CVS announced that customers in New York and 13 other states will need an authorized prescriber’s prescription to receive the FDA-authorized updated COVID-19 vaccines at CVS pharmacies while federal advisers review recommendations; the vaccines are expected to arrive at stores in the coming days.
Key Takeaways
- CVS will require prescriptions for newly authorized COVID-19 shots in 14 states, including New York.
- The move is in place while a federal advisory panel, the ACIP, prepares guidance at its Sept. 18–19 meeting.
- The FDA authorized three updated vaccines for adults 65+ and people with certain underlying conditions.
- Officials and local clinicians say insurance coverage and delivery details for people under 65 remain unclear.
- Local pharmacists report no immediate supply concerns; Walgreens did not comment when asked.
Verified Facts
CVS said in a company statement that, in 14 states including New York, it will administer FDA-authorized updated COVID-19 vaccines to patients who present an authorized prescriber’s prescription. A CVS spokeswoman clarified that the policy applies to people aged 65 and older and will remain until the federal vaccine advisory panel issues guidance.
On the prior Wednesday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized three updated COVID-19 vaccines for use in people aged 65 and older and for individuals with certain underlying health conditions noted by regulators, such as high blood pressure, asthma and obesity.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) is scheduled to meet Sept. 18–19 to consider broader recommendations. ACIP guidance typically influences public coverage decisions, including insurance reimbursement.
Local clinicians and pharmacists described limited immediate operational changes. Dr. Eve Meltzer Krief, a pediatrician in Huntington Village, said pediatric practices have not yet received guidance on new delivery procedures for children and are watching whether insurers will follow American Academy of Pediatrics guidance for younger age groups.
Nidhin Mohan, owner and supervising pharmacist at New Island Pharmacy in Deer Park, said he has not been told of prescription requirements at his shop and expects no immediate supply problems because he can order directly from manufacturers.
Context & Impact
The prescription requirement comes amid a broader shift in vaccination policy: federal regulators limited the newly authorized shots primarily to older adults and those at higher risk, rather than recommending them universally for everyone 6 months and older.
That narrower federal authorization, and the pending ACIP recommendation, affect how quickly insurers may cover the vaccine for people under 65 and for children. If ACIP issues limited guidance, some plans could deny routine coverage until a broader recommendation is made.
Clinics and pharmacies face a compressed timeline: September and October are peak months for respiratory virus vaccination campaigns that typically include both influenza and COVID-19 shots. Any administrative barrier, such as a prescription requirement, could slow uptake during that window.
- Potential effects: slower vaccination rates among lower-risk adults; extra administrative steps for providers and pharmacies.
- Operational notes: pharmacies may need to verify medical records or prescriber authorization for each eligible patient.
“We will administer FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccines to patients who present an authorized prescriber’s prescription in the affected states while federal guidance is pending,” a CVS spokeswoman said in an email.
CVS spokesperson / Health and Human Services social media post
Unconfirmed
- Whether and how most private insurers will cover the updated vaccines for healthy adults under 65 before ACIP issues formal guidance.
- How pediatric vaccine delivery will be adjusted if children’s eligibility or billing rules change locally.
Bottom Line
CVS’s prescription requirement is a temporary operational response while federal advisers weigh vaccine use recommendations. Older adults and people with certain medical conditions are prioritized under the FDA authorization, but broader access and insurance coverage for younger, healthy adults remain uncertain until ACIP issues guidance in mid-September.