Local pharmacies and health care providers prepare for new COVID-19 regulations

Nia Hinson

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Some local pharmacies and health care providers are working to determine their vaccination protocols after new federal regulations limit who can receive them.

The Food and Drug Administration approved updated COVID-19 vaccines for the upcoming fall and winter season. The regulations now state that Americans will be required to get a prescription to receive a COVID-19 vaccination unless they are 65 years or older or have underlying health conditions that put them at risk.

Healthy children under age 18 will be able to receive a COVID-19 vaccine after consulting with their health care provider, according to ABC News.

In a statement sent to ABC 17 News Tuesday afternoon, MU Health Care said it is still finalizing any changes.

“We are still finalizing our vaccination protocols as we await guidance related to recent policy change,” the statement said.

Boone Health did not immediately provide a response.

ABC 17 News spoke with a pharmacist at the Walgreens located on East Broadway who said anyone under 65 or who does not have a health condition will not be eligible to receive the shot without a prescription.

The CVS Pharmacy on Bernadette Drive said children under 12 will need a prescription.

According to Kilgore’s pharmacist, Bill Morrissey, the pharmacy is still waiting on guidance and clarification.

Board President of the Missouri Immunization Coalition, Lynelle Phillips, said the United States is already having trouble with vaccination rates, and the new restrictions aren’t going to help.

“The other concern is, for instance, I have a husband who qualifies for the vaccine and will likely get it, and I don’t. So even if he gets the vaccine, if I go out and catch COVID while on campus or whatever and bring it home, then the vaccine is not 100%,” Phillips said.

According to Phillips, in public health, the goal is not only to vaccinate high-risk people, but also to make sure people they are in close contact with are vaccinated as well. The new restrictions are something she fears will no longer allow that to happen.

Phillips also said the restrictions could become problematic for pregnant women.

Physicians can prescribe to people who don’t fit a certain category based on the drug label, referred to as “off label.” However, Phillips said there’s a possibility of liability in those cases.

The new restrictions also mean some Americans may now face out-of-pocket costs when receiving the vaccine.

“The child vaccines are all covered by the vaccine for children program, but now COVID is not being recommended for children, so they won’t be covered, which means they’ll have to use private insurance to become vaccinated,” Phillips said. “I don’t know how insurance companies will feel about that. It’s the same for adults. People might have to pay out-of-pocket if they really want it, and we have enough trouble promoting the COVID vaccine as it is, let alone asking people to fork out cash for it.”

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