Pharmacies CVS and Walgreens scale back COVID-19 vaccinations across over a dozen states due to updated guidelines

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced the end of the emergency use authorization (EUA) for COVID-19 vaccines, a decision communicated by U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in August 2025.

With this change, the FDA has limited new COVID-19 vaccine boosters to high-risk Americans only. The updated vaccines are approved only for seniors and people with underlying conditions that put them at higher risk of severe illness. Both Moderna's and Pfizer's vaccines are now authorised for people aged 6 months and over, and 5 years old and over, respectively. Novavax's vaccine has been approved for individuals at least 12 years old.

However, access to the updated vaccines has been restricted in certain states. CVS has stopped offering updated COVID-19 vaccines in three states (Massachusetts, Nevada, and New Mexico) and has limited access in 13 other states and the District of Columbia. States affected include Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia.

Walgreens, on the other hand, is prepared to offer the updated COVID-19 vaccine in states where they are able to do so. The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment from FOX Business regarding the FDA's actions on COVID-19 vaccines.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., in his announcement, also stated that the FDA has ended emergency use authorization for COVID-19 vaccines. He further claimed that the FDA's recent actions accomplish the goals of ending covid vaccine mandates, keeping vaccines available to vulnerable individuals, demanding placebo-controlled trials, and ending the emergency.

In regions where distribution of updated COVID-19 vaccines is limited, high-risk individuals may still receive the updated boosters if they obtain a prescription from an authorized provider.

It's important to note that this development does not affect the ongoing efforts to combat the spread of COVID-19. Individuals are encouraged to follow public health guidelines, including wearing masks, maintaining social distancing, and getting vaccinated if eligible.

In a separate development, CVS Caremark has been ordered to pay $290 million after a Medicare fraud scheme was exposed by a former Aetna whistleblower. This fact, however, is not directly related to the topic of the article.

Pharmacies CVS and Walgreens scale back COVID-19 vaccinations across over a dozen states due to updated guidelines