Headed for Florida? Better Get Your Shots First

September 10, 2025 — Gov. DeSantis seems to be a big fan of MAHA – Make America Healthy Again – at least its anti-vax conspiracies. Florida recently eliminated vaccine mandates for children entering school, which will almost certainly bring polio, measles, and other life-threatening, but preventable, deaths to the State’s school age children. For adults, the problem is the State’s honoring recent changes made by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the state of Florida. The new policies, which require prescriptions or the existence of certain underlying conditions to get a shot, are causing chaos and concern. People over 65 can get the jab in many states without the prescription, but not in Florida. The South Florida Sun Sentinel recently covered the unfolding situation in its “Covid Vaccine Decisions Bringing Anger and Confusion” article.

Walgreens No – CVS with a Prescription

People in Florida are reporting that Walgreens is saying that Covid vaccines are just not available right now vaccines because of uncertainties on how to react to the new policies. A Walgreens spokeswoman reported to The Sentinel that “the 2025-26 COVID-19 vaccine is not available at Florida Walgreens” until the state receives “eligibility guidance” from the Advisory Committee of Immunization Practices, or ACIP, a panel of medical and public health experts within the CDC.

Over at CVS, you should still seem to get a COVID shot, but you will need a doctor’s prescription to get it in Florida (Editor’s note: I got mine yesterday in CT without an Rx). An estimated 90% of people get their COVID boosters at a pharmacy because of the convenience.

Other States

There are 11 other states that require medical prescriptions for the COVID-19 boosters: Arizona, Georgia, Louisiana, Maine, North Carolina, New Mexico, New York, Utah, Virginia, and West Virginia. New York seems to be on the verge of requiring them.

Medicare and Insurance

Medicare is paying for COVID boosters – at least for now. How health insurance companies handle who pays is an open question, given the uncertainty of the new policies from the CDC

Bottom line

No matter where you live or where you headed, if you would like to get the latest COVID booster you need to check around first. Call your pharmacy or health care provider to see if, and how you can get one. COVID is still around, so getting a booster seems like the best plan, unless your doctor cautions against it.

Comments: Have you had the most recent booster, or are you thinking about it? Please share your thoughts and experiences in the Comments section below.