Senator presses CVS, Walgreens on COVID vaccine access

Amid rising COVID-19 infections and reports and mounting reports of vaccine inaccessibility, Sen. Ed Markey sent letters to the CEOs of CVS Health and Walgreens asking why updated vaccines are difficult to attain in many states. 

Mr. Markey, who chairs the Senate HELP Committee Subcommittee on Primary Health and Pensions, cited growing confusion and regulatory breakdowns as major barriers to vaccine access at the nation’s largest pharmacy chains, according to a Sept. 5 news release from the senator’s office. 

In the letters, he pointed to recent decisions such as FDA restricting vaccine eligibility to adults 65 and older along with high-risk individuals. In addition, Mr. Markey pointed to disruptions caused by the removal of all CDC immunization advisers by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. 

CVS recently suspended vaccine offerings entirely in some states — including Massachusetts, the state Mr. Markey represents — and now requires prescriptions for certain individuals to obtain COVID-19 vaccines in at least 16 states. Walgreens has also imposed similar constraints. 

Mr. Markey also said in the letters that the lack of national guidance has forced pharmacies to “navigate a patchwork of conflicting federal, state and local rules.” He warned the situation risks creating an increase in hospitalization and long COVID cases and requested information on how pharmacy policies were formed and what steps are being taken to preserve access. 

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