In August, the Food and Drug Administration established new requirements for receiving the updated COVID-19 vaccine, a move that could limit access for some individuals.
The FDA now recommends the 2025 variant for people age 65 and older and for individuals with underlying conditions that increase the risk of severe illness. The agency also requires a prescription to receive the vaccine.
“This is something we weren’t necessarily expecting, and I think health professionals across the country are still recommending [the vaccine] because the evidence really hasn’t changed around people’s risk level for catching COVID,” said Dr. Susan Dobson, senior lecturer for the University of Southern Mississippi School of Health Professions.
Pharmacies are responding differently to the changes. CVS said it will follow FDA requirements, while Walgreens said it will comply with state regulations. States are deciding whether to adopt the new federal restrictions.
“With the confusion on a federal level, everyone is not going to have equal access [to the vaccine],” Dobson said. “Some states are going to allow the vaccine to be distributed through pharmacies, which is super convenient and that helps with uptake rate.”
In Mississippi, pharmacies are still offering the vaccine, and the state health officer is encouraging residents to get vaccinated.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continues to recommend vaccination for all adults age 18 and older. On its website, the agency states: “Staying up to date on COVID-19 vaccination helps protect against hospitalization, critical illness, and death in all age groups. CDC recommends everyone stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines for their age group.”
Some students said they are uncertain about future vaccinations.
“I don’t know about getting this next year’s booster but I definitely will if it becomes more prevalent again or is something that comes up yearly kind of like the flu,” USM student Ellis Voss said.
Health officials have expressed concern that fewer people will get the vaccine under the new requirements, which could lead to more COVID-19 cases. Dobson and the CDC continue to encourage vaccinations and advise residents to check state regulations regarding access.
