The orders follow the federal Food and Drug Administration’s decision to authorize COVID vaccine boosters only for certain people
Colorado officials on Wednesday issued public health orders aimed at making it easier for Coloradans to receive a COVID vaccine booster this fall.
The orders essentially create a standing prescription allowing for any Coloradan ages 6 months or older to receive a COVID shot if they or their parents choose. That is significant because pharmacy heavyweights CVS and Walgreens, amid confusion over federal vaccine policy, have thus far refused to administer COVID shots this year to anyone in Colorado without a doctor’s prescription.
In addition, the state Board of Pharmacy will meet Friday to discuss rule changes that could further ensure access to COVID vaccines.
“Colorado is committed to empowering individuals to make choices to protect their own health and safety,” Gov. Jared Polis said in a statement, “and I will not allow ridiculous and costly red tape or decisions made far away in Washington to keep Coloradans from accessing vaccines.”
The prescription order goes into effect on Friday.
Good on CO. I’m in California and not eligible — I hope we do the same and/or the WA-OR-CA vaccine pact that’s been mentioned elsewhere comes to the rescue.
Not sure how it is in most states, but in my state if you go to the pharmacy to get a shot, you just tell them whether you’re eligible by filling out a sheet of paper or online questionnaire. You could pretty easily lie to get the shot if you wanted to do so, and it’s not like you would get in any trouble, even if anyone found out, which they almost certainly wouldn’t.
Source: I’ve worked in a pharmacy.
I had my measles tested earlier this year, and my immunity has worn off. I’m in a state that borders Texas so I got my ass to Walgreens.
They asked if it was for school or for work… when I told them it was because my doctor had ordered it, they were like, hold on. They had to confer for quite a while. Lesson learned, say “work”
Mine used to be like that. However apparently there’s a law explicitly tying that to cdc recommendations, so they’re not accessible this year. Oops.
According to the news you need an actual prescription this year, and need to pay. At the moment, I don’t think it’s available period
According to a recent article about NY, which has similar vaccine laws to my state:
You would likely need an Rx if you don’t meet the criteria for the CDC recommendation (and I would assume they will mirror the FDA’s approval). In that case, the vaccine would be off-label, and so insurance may not cover it, but if you tell the pharmacy you are at high risk for Covid, making you eligible, there should be state laws in place that make your insurance pay for the vaccine.
It seems CVS is trying to be precautious legally speaking and blanket requiring a prescription, but I recommend you call or ask in person your local pharmacy, be it a chain or independent. In a couple weeks when the CDC and ACIP put out their recommendations, thing will be more clear.
Yeah, realistically my best bet is to wait a few weeks to see how it falls out. Theirs a reasonable chance our state legislature will do something g to help. I have been tending to get COVID boosters in October anyway.
Most of mine won’t let you without an appointment and no matter how I answer the questions online it tells me I’m ineligible
You may live in a state where pharmacy administration of vaccines is tied to CDC or ACIP recommendations, and they should be putting out their recommendations in the next couple weeks. Until then, the pharmacies wouldn’t be able to give out any seasonal vaccines like Covid or flu. But I recommend calling or asking your local pharmacy, they have more relevant info for your state and if their company policy differs any.
Then what’s the answers to get the shot?
Depends on the place, sometimes they directly ask you if you have a condition that makes you high risk for Covid, and sometimes you would tell them you have something like a lung disease or cardiovascular disease. Either of those should be sufficient. If you’re unclear, ask your local pharmacist, they generally want to help.