Tell CVS and Walgreens: Offer COVID Vaccines Nationwide

CVS and Walgreens are pulling back access to COVID‑19 vaccines in over a dozen states—including full suspension of updated shots in Massachusetts, Nevada, and New Mexico, and imposing prescriptions plus age or health‑condition limitations in many others.

Meanwhile, COVID cases are climbing across the U.S., driven in part by the rapidly spreading Stratus variant, which now accounts for a significant and growing share of all cases.

This policy shift is being driven by confusing state guidelines and shifting federal protocols. But the consequences are clear: vulnerable individuals are being locked out of a critical layer of protection just as respiratory illnesses surge across the nation.

Health policy expert Kavelle Christie calls it a public health crisis, warning that pharmacy closures and service reductions threaten to deepen existing inequities into pharmacy deserts—especially in rural or underserved areas. Christie emphasizes that when pharmacies vanish, people lose more than just a place to fill prescriptions. They lose access to lifesaving medications, vaccines, and essential care.

We call on CVS and Walgreens to immediately restore access to COVID‑19 vaccines across all states, without unnecessary restrictions or prescription requirements.

They must ensure clear, consistent communication about vaccine availability and eligibility so no one is turned away without understanding their options.

And they must commit to equitable access for all, regardless of where someone lives or whether they can secure a doctor’s note.