CVS Health Not Offering COVID Vaccines in 16 States Amid Regulatory Delays

CVS Health is not offering COVID vaccines in 16 states, including Florida, New York, and Pennsylvania, due to the current regulatory environment. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention panel needs to recommend the shots before CVS can offer them nationwide, but the panel is not meeting for at least three weeks.

CVS Health, the nation's largest pharmacy chain, has announced that it will not offer COVID-19 vaccines in 16 states, including Florida, New York, and Pennsylvania. The decision is based on the current regulatory environment, as CVS awaits recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) panel [1].

The FDA has recently approved new COVID-19 shots for adults aged 65 and older and for younger individuals at higher risk of severe illness. However, CVS is currently restricted from administering these vaccines in several states due to state-level regulations that limit pharmacists' ability to administer non-recommended vaccines [1].

Among the states impacted are Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia. In states where CVS can administer the vaccine, it requires an authorized prescription [1].

The regulatory environment is creating a complex situation for pharmacies, with legal experts noting that federal decisions are making it difficult for pharmacies to navigate vaccine distribution [2]. The CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has not met since the new vaccines were approved, and CVS is waiting for their recommendation to offer the shots nationwide [1].

CVS Pharmacy is currently offering FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccinations in 34 states, excluding the 16 states where it has not been able to administer the vaccine. Appointments can be scheduled online via CVS.com or through the CVS Health app [1].

The regulatory landscape surrounding COVID-19 vaccines is continually evolving, with the CDC's ACIP scheduled to meet next month to discuss the new recommendations. CVS Health's decision to hold off on offering the vaccines in these states reflects the need for clarity and guidance from the federal health agency [1].

References:
[1] https://abc7news.com/post/cvs-holds-off-offering-covid-19-vaccines-16-states/17686290/
[2] https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/28/well/cvs-pharmacy-covid-vaccine-16-states.html