Prescription requirement adds new step for COVID-19 vaccines

>> REQUIREMENTS THAT THEY HAVE FEWER AND FEWER PEOPLE. WILL STEP UP AND DECIDE THEY WANT TO GET THEM. >> COVID-19 VACCINES ARE QUICKLY BECOMING A THING OF THE PAST AND INCREDIBLY HARD TO FIND. AND WITH THE STATE OF FLORIDA PUSHING TO BAN MRNA VACCINES, THEY ARE LIKELY TO BECOME EVEN MORE SCARCE IN THE COMING MONTHS. GULF COAST NEWS REPORTER AN A LA GRANDE PARA WHAT SEARCHING AND FOUND SOME PHARMACIES NOW REQUIRE A PRESCRIPTION FROM YOUR DOCTOR TO GET WHAT USED TO BE A READILY AVAILABLE VACCINE. >> YOU ASKED US WHERE CAN YOU GET A COVID-19 VACCINE AND I CALLED BOTH CORPORATE AND LOCAL PHARMACIES TO GET YOU ANSWERS. TURNS OUT AT CBS YOU NEED A PRESCRIPTION TO GET A VACCINE. HOWEVER, IF YOU GO THROUGH THE MINUTE CLINIC, YOU WON’T NEED PRESCRIPTION AS LONG AS YOU SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT. I ALSO CALLED PUBLIX AND WALMART LOCATIONS IN OUR COMMUNITY. PUBLIC SAID THEY DO NOT HAVE THE VACCINES IN STOCK AND CAN’T CONFIRM IF THERE WILL BE A RESTOCK. MEANWHILE, WAL-MART SAID THEY ARE AWAITING A GREEN LIGHT FROM CORPORATE AND ARE IN MINISTERING THE SHOTS UNTIL THEN DR. SUSAN HOOK OF SAMARITAN HEALTH AND WELLNESS SAYS YOU CAN ALSO TRY PRIVATE CLINICS AND PRACTICES. HOWEVER, MANY OF THEM, INCLUDING SAMARITAN, DON’T OFFER IT BECAUSE OF THE COST TO PROVIDERS. WELL. >> NO, BECAUSE BACK WHEN COVID FIRST HIT IN 2020, ALL THE COVID VACCINES WERE FREE. THEY WERE NEW VACCINES AND SO THEY WERE OFFERED FOR FREE. WELL, NOW THERE’S A COST TO THEM. THE MINUTE CLINIC DOES OFFER A OUT-OF-POCKET OPTION. IF YOUR INSURANCE DOESN’T COVER IT, THAT SHOULD COST YOU ABOUT $250. HOWEVER, TOMORROW. >> THE VACCINE ADVISORY BOARD IS EXPECTED TO BE MEETING AT THE CDC TO FINALIZE COVID VACCINE REGULATIONS ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL REPORTING

Prescription requirement adds new step for COVID-19 vaccines

Updated: 7:23 PM EDT Sep 17, 2025

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State regulations now require patients at CVS Pharmacy to provide a doctor’s prescription in order to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. However, there is also an option to schedule an appointment through the MinuteClinic, which doesn’t require a prescription.Appointments can be booked directly online. The shot is free with most insurance providers; however, there is an option to pay out of pocket, which may cost $224.99 or $249.99, depending on the type of vaccine and patient eligibility, according to the CVS website.Private clinics and practices may also carry the COVID-19 vaccine; however, many opt not to carry it for cost reasons, less so for whether or not they believe in the vaccine’s effectiveness.”Back when COVID first hit in 2020, all the COVID vaccines were free. They were new vaccines. They were offered for free. Well, now there’s a cost to them,” said Dr. Susan Hook of Samaritan Health and Wellness.”I would gladly write a prescription for a patient if they ask me,” added Hook.The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices is expected to meet Sept. 18 and 19 on the CDC main campus.DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.

LEE COUNTY, Fla. —

State regulations now require patients at CVS Pharmacy to provide a doctor’s prescription in order to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. However, there is also an option to schedule an appointment through the MinuteClinic, which doesn’t require a prescription.

Appointments can be booked directly online. The shot is free with most insurance providers; however, there is an option to pay out of pocket, which may cost $224.99 or $249.99, depending on the type of vaccine and patient eligibility, according to the CVS website.

Private clinics and practices may also carry the COVID-19 vaccine; however, many opt not to carry it for cost reasons, less so for whether or not they believe in the vaccine’s effectiveness.

“Back when COVID first hit in 2020, all the COVID vaccines were free. They were new vaccines. They were offered for free. Well, now there’s a cost to them,” said Dr. Susan Hook of Samaritan Health and Wellness.

“I would gladly write a prescription for a patient if they ask me,” added Hook.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices is expected to meet Sept. 18 and 19 on the CDC main campus.

DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.

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