Which NC pharmacies aren’t offering COVID vaccines with new FDA guidance? A list
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- FDA limits COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to seniors and high-risk individuals.
- CVS and Walgreens restrict vaccine access, shifting demand to local providers.
- Appointments for COVID-19 shots remain unavailable at major NC pharmacy chains.
Update: Find our latest story on COVID-19 vaccine access here.
With new limits on who can get COVID-19 vaccines, some pharmacies in North Carolina are restricting who can schedule a shot.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration last week withdrew emergency use authorization for COVID-19 vaccines, restricting eligibility to people 65 and older and to younger adults with at least one underlying health condition, The Associated Press reported.
The new rules also restrict children’s access: Pfizer’s updated vaccine is no longer authorized for those under 5, while Moderna’s Spikevax remains available only to children under 5 with serious health conditions, AP reported.
The announcement comes as a new strain, NB.1.8.1 — made more transmissible by a spike protein mutation — continues to spread across the country, The Charlotte Observer reported. With it, many are experiencing a painful “razor blade throat” symptom.
As a result, major chains like CVS and Walgreens have scaled back vaccine availability in North Carolina, leaving many residents to seek shots through local health departments or smaller providers instead.
Here’s what you need to know.
CVS
CVS is requiring prescriptions for COVID-19 vaccines at its pharmacies in North Carolina, but prescriptions are not required at MinuteClinic locations, a spokesperson for the company told the Observer in an email Monday, Sept. 8.
You can search online for a nearby MinuteClinic, then book an appointment or stop in, since walk-ins are welcome.
Walgreens
In a statement to CBS News, Walgreens said it is “prepared to offer the vaccine in states where we are able to do so.”
When the Observer attempted to schedule an appointment online Tuesday, the option for a COVID-19 vaccine was not available.
“Updated 2025-26 COVID-19 vaccines are expected soon,” Walgreens’ website says. “Once available, you’ll be able to book an appointment.”
Walmart
The COVID-19 vaccine isn’t available at Walmart, according to the company’s website.
The site encourages patients to check back for updates about scheduling an appointment.
Harris Teeter
When the Observer tried to book an appointment for a COVID-19 vaccine Tuesday, there weren’t any appointments available at North Carolina locations.
“Your selected service is unavailable here,” the screen said for each location. “Please try another location.”
Will pharmacies offer the COVID vaccines?
Maybe. N.C. Board of Pharmacy Director Jay Campbell explained that, according to state law, pharmacists can only administer COVID-19 vaccines to patients over the age of 18 with a prescription — but that could change soon.
“I very much understand anxiousness among members of the public to get the vaccine,” Campbell told the Observer.
The Advisory Council for Immunization Practices, which advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on vaccine use in the U.S., is scheduled to meet Sept. 18-19.
The committee is expected to discuss and potentially vote on updates for COVID-19 vaccine recommendations, a move that could potentially allow North Carolina pharmacists to give the COVID-19 vaccine to patients without a prescription. But there’s no guarantee, Campbell said, meaning state-level restrictions could be left intact.
This story has been updated with comments from a CVS Pharmacy spokesperson.
This story was originally published September 3, 2025 at 12:23 PM with the headline "Which NC pharmacies aren’t offering COVID vaccines with new FDA guidance? A list."
