Introduction to COVID-19 Vaccine Access in Florida
In Florida, many pharmacists, doctors, and patients find themselves confused about who has access to COVID-19, flu, RSV and other vaccines, as well as the cost of those shots. Some pharmacies are giving out the new COVID-19 vaccine boosters, while others are not. Some doctors are issuing prescriptions for COVID vaccines, while others are incorrectly informing patients that there’s a state-imposed temporary hold on their ability to do so. And some patients are finding vaccines fully covered by insurance, while others are paying several hundred dollars out of pocket.
Current COVID-19 Situation in Florida
In the meantime, wastewater analysis shows Florida is a hot spot for COVID, with levels of the infectious disease climbing over the last month as a summer wave continues. Much of the confusion stems from the contention on the federal level over vaccine policy, inconsistency in insurance coverage because of it, and Florida’s stance as one of 12 states that require medical prescriptions for the COVID-19 boosters. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an outspoken vaccine skeptic, has pushed to limit who qualifies for an updated COVID shot.
Availability of COVID-19 Vaccines in Florida
The Food and Drug Administration approved the updated COVID booster last month, but only for adults ages 65 and up or those with underlying medical conditions. While CVS is administering shots for people with a prescription, major pharmacy chains in Florida, such as Publix Pharmacy and Walgreens, as well as small local pharmacies, are holding off completely on administering COVID boosters until the vaccine advisory committee at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issues its own recommendation on eligibility. That committee, called the ACIP, meets in Atlanta on Sept. 18 and 19 to review the immunization schedules for several vaccines, including COVID-19, RSV, MMRV and Hepatitis B.
Frustration Among Florida Residents
In a state with a large population of vulnerable seniors, the lack of access and clarity has Florida residents frustrated. It comes at the same time as Florida’s surgeon general has announced a plan to eliminate requirements for childhood vaccinations, a move that has Florida’s medical community alarmed about the potential for disease outbreaks. Florida’s seniors are encountering roadblocks at their pharmacies, and physicians’ offices do not have the vaccines. “I recently went to my Publix pharmacy to get a COVID vaccine booster,” said 73-year-old Robert Sherrin. “I suffer from high blood pressure and have asthma. I was told that Publix has ordered the vaccine but will not give it to anyone until a CDC meeting on September 18 to decide who is eligible. I find this extremely frustrating and a significant risk to my health if I am not able to get a vaccine.”
What You Should Know About Vaccines in Florida
Here is what you should know about what is happening with vaccines in Florida.
Q. Do Florida pharmacies have COVID vaccines in stock, and if so, which brands?
A.
The fall COVID-19 vaccines have an updated formula targeting JN.1 or LP.8.1, which are Omicron subvariants. In studies, they protected recipients more against urgent care visits and hospitalization compared to people who didn’t receive the vaccine. Three vaccines are on the market: Pfizer’s COMIRNATY COVID-19 vaccine for those 5 years and older; Moderna’s SPIKEVAX for those 6 months and older; and Novavax’s NUVAXOVID for those 12 years and older. CVS pharmacies throughout Florida carry either Pfizer shots or Moderna shots, as do MinuteClinics. The shot from Novavax, which doesn’t use mRNA technology, will be available in early fall. However, some retail pharmacies have temporarily suspended administering any COVID shots.
If ACIP votes next week to recommend broad COVID-19 vaccine use, many access barriers could lift.
Q. Must someone in Florida have a prescription to get a COVID booster?
A.
To get a COVID shot in Florida, you must have a medical prescription. However, anyone wanting to get the shots without a prescription who meets the federal guidelines can schedule an appointment with, or walk into, one of CVS’ MinuteClinics, which are staffed with medical professionals such as nurse practitioners who can issue a prescription. You will be charged for a regular appointment. “I tried to schedule an appointment at CVS for a COVID vaccine, but kept getting the message that I don’t qualify. I had my doctor send a prescription and then I was able to get the vaccine,” said Hallandale resident Karen Frank. “I am 77 and will be traveling next week and I know so many people who have COVID. I didn’t want to wait or take a chance.”
Q. Are government and private insurance companies paying for COVID boosters?
A.
It is not yet finalized how insurers will handle coverage for the vaccine this year. In past years, Americans have been able to receive free coronavirus vaccines after the CDC’s vaccine advisory committee recommended them. Insurance associations are monitoring the upcoming ACIP meeting before determining their coverage plans. “Individual health plans and plan sponsors will be prepared to make coverage decisions informed by science, the latest medical evidence and data,” America’s Health Insurance Plans’ Tina Stow said in a statement provided to the South Florida Sun Sentinel. “This process will be evidence-based, evaluate multiple sources of data, including but not limited to ACIP, and will be informed by customer needs.” If ACIP recommends the COVID-19 vaccine only for people over 65 and a small group of younger adults with certain high-risk medical conditions, then insurance companies won’t have to cover the shot for everyone. However, Florida could require private insurance companies to cover the COVID-19 vaccine, even if ACIP narrows its recommendation.
Q. Are all other vaccines available at pharmacies in Florida, and do you need a prescription?
A.
The 2025-26 flu vaccine is available for everyone ages 6 months or older, and retail pharmacies in Florida have been giving it since August. The vaccine for RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, is available for people who qualify. CVS Health spokeswoman Amy Thibault said the prescription requirement is only for the updated COVID-19 vaccine (because it has not yet received ACIP/CDC approval). No other vaccines require prescriptions, she said. South Florida resident Isobel Sturgeon said her insurance required a prescription for the shingles vaccine before agreeing to cover the cost, and she paid out of pocket $200 for her MMR vaccine because she was unsure whether she still had protection. The outcome of the CDC vaccine committee may also determine insurance coverage and eligibility for other immunizations under discussion at the meeting; those vaccines include RSV, MMRV, and Hepatitis B.
Q. Can a child still get the full range of vaccines in Florida?
A.
Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo stated that parents should have the freedom to choose what is best for their children’s health without being barred from schools, and he is working to eliminate vaccine requirements. Some are calling it a high-stakes public health experiment that will have significant ripple effects. Currently, vaccines required to enter school are polio, as well as measles, mumps, and rubella. Children also need diphtheria (respiratory infection), tetanus (lockjaw), and acellular pertussis (whooping cough), also known as DTaP. The four additional vaccines required are for chickenpox (Varicella), pneumococcal conjugate (which causes pneumonia), Hepatitis B, and Haemophilus influenzae type B. Many families delay care until it becomes necessary, and the kindergarten requirement has proved a well-documented catalyst. Dr. Lisa Gwynn, the immediate past president of the Florida Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, said she continues to immunize children and encourages the preventive shots. “Pediatricians are continuing to offer everything we always have. Even if eventually there is no longer a requirement, it doesn’t mean we won’t have access to vaccines. If parents want to get their kids vaccinated, they will get vaccines,” Gwynn said. She recently treated a child with chickenpox who had not received all recommended vaccinations. “The child was in the waiting room and exposed everyone there,” she said. Gwynn notes that Florida’s pharmacies will vaccinate children for COVID only if they have a medical prescription that deems it necessary.
Conclusion
The lack of access to COVID-19 vaccines in Florida has caused frustration among residents, particularly seniors and those with underlying medical conditions. The state’s requirement for medical prescriptions for COVID-19 boosters and the uncertainty surrounding insurance coverage have added to the confusion. As the CDC’s vaccine advisory committee prepares to meet and discuss the eligibility for COVID-19 vaccines, Florida residents can only hope that the situation will improve soon.
FAQs
Q: Do I need a prescription to get a COVID-19 vaccine in Florida?
A: Yes, in Florida, you need a medical prescription to get a COVID-19 vaccine.
Q: Which pharmacies in Florida are administering COVID-19 vaccines?
A: CVS pharmacies and MinuteClinics are administering COVID-19 vaccines, but other pharmacies like Publix and Walgreens are waiting for the CDC’s vaccine advisory committee to issue its recommendation on eligibility.
Q: Are insurance companies paying for COVID-19 vaccines in Florida?
A: It is not yet finalized how insurers will handle coverage for the vaccine this year, but insurance associations are monitoring the upcoming ACIP meeting before determining their coverage plans.
Q: Can children still get vaccinated in Florida?
A: Yes, children can still get vaccinated in Florida, but the state’s surgeon general
