2025 FDA Policy Changes Have Re-Shaped COVID-19 Vaccine Access For Millions Across the United States

What you need to know to protect your health under the chaotic regime of RFK Jr

Without new data, data review or reference to any concerns, Marty Makary’s FDA has taken unprecedented action in limiting access to COVID-19 vaccines nationwide.

Major changes in FDA recommendations typically come after scientific review and in light of new data or new safety signals. There have been no safety changes, no new data, and life-saving access to a vaccine that protects against hospitalization and death will now be harder if not impossible for people to get. SARS-CoV-2 kills and hospitalizes more people than Influenza. Healthy people included. But thanks to Makary’s FDA millions now can’t get the vaccine.

This may be further limited by the CDC’s new ACIP committee recommendations. The 17-member ACIP committee which had been deeply vetted and contained globally renown scientific experts was fired earlier this year by RFK Jr and replaced with a 8-member committee with a glaring lack of public health expertise and many of whom have come to prominence by making fake-science statements attacking gold-standard science on Twitter. In short, a bunch of Twitter trolls were just nominated to run public health access to vaccination. Some have a long history of grifting, starting failed drug repurposing companies, others have been fired from their academic positions due to their lack of grounding in the basic realities of science. One in particular seemed surprised and bitter in the last ACIP meeting about the fact that he doesn’t get to call himself a science professor anymore while spouting science fiction nonsense as if it were fact. The impact of this groups recommendations on further limiting COVID-19 vaccine access remains to be seen. But millions have already lost access.

Where Are We Now With COVID-19 Vaccine Access?

The rules for getting a COVID-19 vaccine in the United States were changed by Makary’s FDA just a few months ago, front-running the annual spike in SARS-CoV-2 infections we see every winter in the United States.

New health laws mean that millions of people who will require a prescription to get the 2025-26 COVIV-19 vaccine booster shot. Booster shots are widely, globally, recognized as important in reducing hospitalization, death, and developing life-altering Long-COVID. Also, because booster shots both reduce infection (better than the influenza vaccine) and reduce the viral load (your immune system can control the virus better if infected), they reduce spread which saves lives.

Which States Need a Prescription for COVID-19 Shots?

Large pharmacy chains, such as CVS and Walgreens, now require a doctor’s prescription to give the COVID-19 vaccine in the following states. Here are the 13 states and districts where you now need a prescription:

• Arizona

• Colorado

• Florida

• Georgia

• Kentucky

• Louisiana

• Maine

• New York

• North Carolina

• Pennsylvania

• Utah

• Virginia

• West Virginia

• Washington, D.C.

Please contact your governor and local state health department to let them know how you feel about these changes and how they will impact your health and wellness. My linktree has several peer-reviewed studies supporting the importance of vaccine access. Even more have been published since I last updated it, there are hundreds at this point.

In some states you currently can not access the COVID-19 vaccine at large pharmacies at all, they have paused distribution. This includes Massachusetts, Nevada, and New Mexico. If you live in these states check with your local health department regarding when access will be restored.

Here Is Who Marty Makary’s FDA Says Can Get Vaccinated:

• Adults age 65 and older can still get vaccinated at pharmacies.

• People ages 5 to 64 can get the COVID-19 vaccine only if they have health problems like diabetes, asthma, heart disease, or another issue that makes COVID more risky. SARS-CoV-2 infection can cause life-altering long-COVID in healthy adults and has led to the hospitalization and death of previously healthy people.

• Healthy kids under 5 don’t have any vaccines approved at most pharmacies unless they have health issues. This is directly counter to the American Academy of Pediatric’’ recommendations and this change was not based in science or new data.

A CDC panel called ACIP used to give advice about who should get vaccinated. This year, they haven’t made their recommendations yet and their meeting was just announced for September 18th which may not occur. GOP Health Committee Chair Dr. Bill Cassidy is calling for postponement of this meeting citing the lack of scientific decision making among it’s members appointed by RFK Jr. The next meeting they have scheduled is late October, which given historical trends would be well into the SARS-CoV-2 winter surge.

There is extreme turmoil in the CDC, the head of the CDC was fired late in the night on Wednesday 8/27/2025 by Donald Trump, only a month after he recommended her for the job. Therefore it is unclear when or how or if these vaccine recommendations handed down by Makary’s (another one of RFK Jr cronies) will be altered in the coming months.

Who Has Lost Access to the COVID-19 Vaccine Under Makary’s FDA:

This new rule means lots of people who got the vaccine before can’t get the updated shot easily now.

Healthy Kids, Teens, and Adults Under 65

If you are healthy and don’t have a chronic health problem, you probably can’t get the new COVID-19 vaccine at the pharmacy without a doctor’s prescription (Healthline, CNN). Even getting a prescription can be tough: you need to visit a doctor (which can cost money or take time) and prove you have a health reason that makes you eligible.

Healthy Children Under 5

Families with healthy young children (especially under 5) can’t get a walk-in COVID-19 vaccine at most places. Vaccines for kids are only allowed if children have certain medical conditions. Parents must now talk to their child’s doctor, get special approval, and hope their insurance covers it (Reuters, Healthline).

People Without Proof of Being High Risk

If someone doesn’t have medical records showing their health conditions or doesn’t have health insurance, it’s harder to get the vaccine this year (CNN). Some people in special programs, like Medicaid or Medicare, need to wait for clear advice from health agencies before the vaccine is covered.

People in Restricted States

Even if people have health issues that qualify, living in a restrictive state means needing an extra doctor’s visit for a prescription. This can mean more costs, longer wait times, and confusion for families all over the U.S.

What Can/Should You Do Now?

If you or someone in your family is age 65+ it is more important than ever to get the COVID-19 booster shot. Few people having access to the vaccine will likely increase rates of spread and the number of individuals with high viral load. The higher number of virus particles someone is exposed to (in part dictated by viral load of the person spreading the illness, it is more likely they will develop severe disease.

• Talk to your doctor about getting a prescription so you can get the vaccine.

• If rules are unclear in your state or things change, check with your local health department regullarly.

• Consider writing to state officials, my Linktree provides lists of references regarding the safety and efficacy of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. More have been published since my last Linktree update, creating a time-tested body of scientific knowledge that has yet to be refuted by any other studies.

• Always talk to your doctor and if it is advisable consider medical tourism to a state that is still allowing COVID-19 vaccination.

• As always handwashing, social distancing, air filtration (even a little desktop air filter), and mask wearing will reduce the spread of nearly all airborne viruses.

What Does This Mean for Public Health?

When fewer people get vaccinated, COVID-19 can spread more easily. Experts (myself included) worry that these changes could mean more people get sick, especially those with weak immune systems or older adults. It’s also harder for people without access to doctors or health insurance. Making vaccines easy to get is important for community safety, helping hospitals, and building trust in health care.

We may be in for a very rocky winter SARS-CoV-2, Cold, and Flu season. I am already seeing doctors and nurses across social media discuss how their hospitals are full, right now, in August.

Full hospitals going into a respiratory virus season where Makary has limited access to a vaccine against one of the most highly contagious respiratory viruses in circulation (only measles is more contagious) seems absolutely insane. But, I’m not sure we expected anything less than a deadly science experiment on the American public to be orchestrated by RFK Jr. Makary, and their ilk of grifter. I am glad to see Bill Cassidy, MD has decided to speak out, perhaps the GOP will listen to a MD from their side of the aisle?

In the mean time, be proactive about your health, be prolific in contacting your state officials, and stay safe out there.

References

CVS and Walgreens restrict COVID vaccines in Colorado (Axios)

Getting a COVID vaccine just got more complicated after new FDA restrictions (ABC News)

CVS withholding COVID-19 vaccines in 15 states and DC (The Hill)

FDA narrows under-65 COVID vaccine eligibility (Reuters)

The FDA overhauled COVID vaccine guidance (LA Times)

Who’s Eligible for Updated COVID Vaccines This Fall? (Healthline)

COVID Vaccines Are Still Saving Lives—But They Will Be Harder to Get (Scientific American)

· These are the conditions that make you eligible for an updated Covid-19 vaccine (CNN)