CVS, Walgreens cancel COVID vaccine appointments in NY for those under 65 (2024)

ALBANY – An unknown number of New York residents had their COVID-19 vaccine appointments abruptly cancelled by CVS and Walgreensafter they were able to sign up despite a state rule preventing pharmacies from vaccinating those under the age of 65.

The retail pharmacy giants began administering the vaccine in New York lastweek under a federal program that allocates doses directly to them, with the chains' limited appointments booked up within hours of being made available.

Some of those appointments were filled by those who have comorbidities, who gained eligibility to receive the vaccine on Monday. But those who are under the age of 65 had their appointments abruptly cancelleddays after making them, with the pharmacies pointing to the state rule.

CVS spokesman Mike DeAngelis suggested the cancelations were connected to thestate Department of Health's updated Feb. 15 guidance to vaccine providers, which noted pharmacies "should only vaccinate persons aged 65 years or older" after vaccinating their own staff.

"We worked to identify impacted individuals who had made appointments as soon as we received this updated guidance," DeAngelissaid in an email. "We are required to comply with state guidance on vaccine eligibility and we regret any inconvenience."

State rule had been in place since January

CVS, Walgreens cancel COVID vaccine appointments in NY for those under 65 (1)

The state's rule preventingpharmacies from vaccinating people younger than65, however,had been in effect for nearly a month prior to Feb. 15.

The rule was included in the Health Department's Jan. 19 guidance to vaccine providers, as well as a Jan. 23 executive order by Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

"The requirement that pharmacies in New York State prioritize the 65+ population for vaccination has been stated numerous times by the Governor and is clearly laid out in multiple guidance documents and an executive order," Health Department spokesperson Jill Montag said in a statement.

"Pharmacies book their own vaccination appointments, so please reach out to them for further questions."

It was not immediately clear how widespread the cancellations were; CVS declined to provide an estimate. Walgreens did not immediately respond to questions Wednesday about the situation.

People who booked appointments on CVS' online system were greeted with a pop-up saying eligibility was limited to New York residents age 65 or older, and warning that different states have different eligibility rules.

Still, the warning was apparently easy to miss, as those who had their appointments cancelled wrote to their local government leaders and took to apps like Nextdoor and social media to voice their displeasure.

More:New COVID vaccination sites coming to Rochester, Yonkers, Buffalo and Albany. What to know

More:Cuomo backs marijuana delivery, more social equity detail in latest legalization plan

Cancellations lead to criticism

CVS, Walgreens cancel COVID vaccine appointments in NY for those under 65 (2)

Paul Feiner, supervisor of the town of Greenburgh in Westchester County, publicly posted emails from his constituents who reached out to his office to raise concern after removing their names.

"This is ridiculous," Feiner wrote on the town's website. "Those under 65 who have medical problems deserve the vaccine just like those who are over 65 and are healthier. I am reaching out to the Governor's office - hoping that the state will direct all pharmacies to offer vaccines to everyone eligible to receive them."

Phyllis Sauler said she booked an appointment for her son, who is younger than 65 but has an eligible underlying health condition, at the Walgreens in Dobbs Ferry, Westchester County. She said she received a confirmation email from the drug-store chain before later receiving an email cancelling the appointment, which led her to call for an explanation.

"The person I spoke with at Walgreens told me that she was just told that they were just informed they could only give vaccines to those 65 and older," Sauler wrote in an email.

Cuomo's administration first limited vaccine providers to specific populations in mid-January, not long after expanding the eligibility rules to include those over the age of 65.

Under the state rules, pharmacies are limited to those over the age of 65.Hospitals have to prioritize health care workers, then they can vaccinate residents of facilities for the developmentally disabled, then they can vaccinate those over the age of 65.

Local health departments have to prioritize essential workers for vaccination. They can also designate health care providers in their counties to vaccinate those with comorbidities.

New York's 13 state-run mass vaccination sites are open to anyone who is currently eligible for the vaccine.

Includes reporting by Frank Scandale of The Journal News.

Jon Campbell is a New York state government reporter for the USA TODAY Network. He can be reached at JCAMPBELL1@Gannett.com or on Twitter at@JonCampbellGAN.

Support local journalism

We cover the stories from the New York State Capitol and across New York that matter most to you and your family. Please consider supporting our efforts with a subscription to the New York publication nearest you.

CVS, Walgreens cancel COVID vaccine appointments in NY for those under 65 (2024)

FAQs

What is the newest COVID shot? ›

The Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine (2023-2024 Formula) includes a monovalent (single) component that corresponds to the Omicron variant XBB. 1.5 of SARS-CoV-2.

How long does the COVID vaccine last? ›

The Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech, and Novavax vaccines protect against many known variants of COVID-19. The Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines offer immunity against COVID-19 for up to six months. To increase protection, getting an updated COVID-19 vaccine is now recommended for everyone six months and older.

Is the COVID vaccine no longer approved? ›

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized the updated vaccines by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna for infants and children ages 6 months to 11 years, and approved them for everyone ages 11 years and older. It also authorized an updated Novavax vaccine for those 12 and older in the fall of 2023.

When will the fall 2024 COVID vaccine be available? ›

The new 2024-25 COVID-19 vaccines will come out in August and September, and health experts hope a much higher percentage of Americans will decide to get an annual COVID-19 vaccine this fall and winter than did last year since vaccines protect well against hospitalization and death.

How often should I have a COVID booster? ›

Booster doses are recommended or can be considered based on your age and the presence of risk factors for severe illness. All adults are eligible for a booster dose every 12 months. Adults 65 years and over, or aged 18-64 who are severely immunocompromised, are eligible to receive a booster dose every 6 months.

How long do vaccines stay in your body? ›

The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines work by introducing mRNA (messenger RNA) into your muscle cells. The cells make copies of the spike protein and the mRNA is quickly degraded (within a few days).

Is the latest COVID vaccine safe? ›

Yes. The two mRNA vaccines, Pfizer and Moderna, authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), are very safe and very good at preventing serious or fatal cases of COVID-19.

Which is better Pfizer or Moderna bivalent booster? ›

Pfizer: Is There a “Best” mRNA Vaccine? Both of the mRNA vaccines available in the US are highly effective against severe COVID-19, but recent studies suggest that Moderna's elicits a stronger immune response and might be better at preventing breakthrough infections.

When did the latest COVID vaccine become available? ›

The 2023-2024 vaccine has been available since September 2023.

What is the new COVID variant called? ›

An additional rapidly emerging variant, KP.3, is believed to have similar virological and epidemiological characteristics to KP.2. A third emerging variant, LB.1, is also a "FLiRT" variant. Its rapid increase since early June 2024 indicates that it may overtake KP.3 as the dominant variant in the future.

Is the Pfizer Covid vaccine new? ›

Status: Pfizer's vaccine has been updated over time to target new virus variants. First introduced in December 2020, the original COVID mRNA vaccines from both Pfizer and Moderna protected against the original SARS-CoV-2 virus.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Jerrold Considine

Last Updated:

Views: 5501

Rating: 4.8 / 5 (58 voted)

Reviews: 89% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Jerrold Considine

Birthday: 1993-11-03

Address: Suite 447 3463 Marybelle Circles, New Marlin, AL 20765

Phone: +5816749283868

Job: Sales Executive

Hobby: Air sports, Sand art, Electronics, LARPing, Baseball, Book restoration, Puzzles

Introduction: My name is Jerrold Considine, I am a combative, cheerful, encouraging, happy, enthusiastic, funny, kind person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.