States are taking steps to ease access to COVID-19 vaccines as they await federal recommendation [View all]

Source: AP

Updated 3:44 PM EDT, September 12, 2025


The governors of Arizona, Illinois, Maine and North Carolina on Friday joined the growing list of Democratic officials who have signed orders intended to ensure most residents can receive COVID-19 vaccines at pharmacies without individual prescriptions.

Unlike past years, access to COVID-19 vaccines has become complicated in 2025, largely because federal guidance does not recommend them for nearly everyone this year as it had in the past. Here’s a look at where things stand.

Pharmacy chain says the shots are available in most states without individual prescriptions

CVS Health, the biggest pharmacy chain in the U.S., says its stores are offering the shots without an individual prescription in 41 states as of midday Friday.

But the remaining states — Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maine, North Carolina, Oregon, Utah and West Virginia, plus the District of Columbia — require individual prescriptions under the company’s interpretation of state policies. Arizona, Maine and North Carolina are likely to come off that list as the new orders take effect there.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/covid-vaccine-order-states-45cb1439f260c9f6b2ccd1fb7a99ca1f