West Virginians who want a covid vaccine shot may face a tougher time this year.
For patients 65 and older, covid vaccines should be available upon request. But for other age groups, requirements mean the vaccine would be unavailable unless at least one underlying condition puts the person at high risk for severe outcomes from covid-19.
Pharmacists are saying that if they receive a prescription for one of the covid-19 vaccines, then they are permitted to administer an age appropriate vaccine to individuals 3 years and up.
That differs from recent years when people were able to walk into a neighborhood pharmacy and get a covid shot upon request.
“Unfortunately, West Virginia is one of 16 states that will be requiring a prescription to get the covid vaccine this year,” said Dr. Michael Amos, a physician specializing in family medicine in the Huntington area.
“As always, it is recommended to get your vaccine for flu and covid annually as the predominate variant changes and the new vaccine is intended to cover this latest variant.”
Amos also serves in the House of Delegates as a Republican representing areas of Wayne and Cabell counties. He suggested a legislative approach could apply to the requirement for prescription for a covid shot.
“As for the prescription-needed status, I hope that my colleagues and I can help to rectify this in the coming session. I continue to stand behind the belief that vaccines are one of the leading health advancements in all of modern medicine and access is paramount,” Amos said.
Some states, like Pennsylvania, have authorized eligible people to get a covid-19 vaccine without a prescription.
This is all happening because on Aug. 27, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration updated its covid-19 vaccine guidance, limiting approvals for the updated shot to anyone age 65 and older or to younger people with least one underlying health condition increasing the risk of severe covid-19 infection.
If people successfully get a prescription, they might need to pay out of pocket, depending on whether their insurance covers the shot.
Federal law requires that most health insurance plans fully cover vaccines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. Some states also require recommendations by federal entities before allowing vaccines to be offered over-the-counter at pharmacies.
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, a panel of independent experts that guides vaccine policy, has not voted on or issued current guidance.
That’s because on June 9, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. fired all 17 members of the immunization advisory committee and replaced some with new members. The advisory panel is scheduled to meet Sept. 18 to 19.
“In short we don’t know what the recommendations are going to be yet,” said Ken Reed, a Hedgesville area pharmacist who has served as a Republican member of the state House of Delegates.
“So in West Virginia we will need a prescription from a patient’s physician to administer the covid vaccine until we have the CDC’s recommendations which will be after September 18/19th. Once we have the recommendations from the CDC, those guidelines will be followed.”