COVID-19 Booster Chaos

UPDATED 9/10/25: “State Health Commissioner Dr. Karen Shelton told Senators on the Joint Subcommittee on Health and Human Resources Oversight Wednesday that she would issue a standing order on Thursday 9/11 that would allow Virginians over the age of 65, or adults with underlying conditions, to obtain a COVID-19 vaccine without a prescription.“

We know this is all very confusing – if you’re uncertain about your situation, call or stop by where you have typically gotten your Covid vaccine and ask.

Ever since the Food and Drug Administration restricted who can get the COVID-19 booster vaccine in August 2025, confusion has spread like wildfire. The shifting landscape of information and misinformation upended everything we knew about accessing this vaccine.

What caused these changes, and who are they impacting? Just as importantly, what will happen next?

This is a developing story.

Who is eligible for the COVID-19 booster vaccine?

As of this writing the new dosage is currently approved and available without prescription for people age 65 and up. Reportedly, children and adults with underlying medical conditions (per this CDC list) that put them at high risk can also get the vaccine booster—if they have a prescription. The need for a prescription varies by state.

Do you need a prescription for a Covid vaccine in Virginia?

As of this writing and to the best of N4C’s knowledge, a prescription will be required for those between ages 5 and 64 who have an underlying medical condition. You can always check with your doctors and pharmacy to learn if the booster guidelines have changed and how they apply to your specific situation.

Some of the underlying conditions on the CDC list might apply to broad numbers of people, such as “Physical inactivity.” Lawyer and public health advocate Matthew Cortland urged people to take advantage of that condition if it applies.

Barriers to the COVID-19 booster

The initial COVID-19 vaccine rollout happened in such a chaotic way that many people had trouble keeping track of the process, especially when the guidelines kept changing. According to New York Times reporter Maggie Astor,

As of this writing, Vaccines.gov doesn’t seem to be working. A notice states: “The functionality of this website may be impacted while it is being updated.”

What is behind the new COVID-19 vaccine restrictions?

The answer points to beyond the FDA, which is part of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is the current Secretary of HHS. He’s also an anti-vaccine activist who claimed in a July 2023 episode of the Lex Fridman podcast that “There’s no vaccine that is, you know, safe and effective.” (A statement he later incorrectly denied.)

According to the Associated Press, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has a long record of promoting anti-vaccine views. Now he’s in charge of the federal government’s public health agency.

Turmoil followed the news about the COVID-19 booster restrictions. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) director Susan Monarez was fired. That incident was followed by the resignations of senior leadership. According to Monarez’s lawyers, she would not “rubber-stamp unscientific, reckless directives and fire dedicated health experts.”

The new restrictions are impacting some Virginians

Marques D. Jones, who lives with a chronic illness, shared his concerns about the vaccine and public health misinformation for immunocompromised people.

Jenn G. described how challenging it was to get the Covid-19 booster in Virginia, noting that “The policy requiring Virginians to have a prescription for the Covid vaccine is just another systemic barrier to fair healthcare.”

And N4C’s own Brittany Rose spoke with CBS 6 News Richmond about the “significant barriers” that a prescription creates:

“‘If you then have to make an appointment and go to the doctor and pay a copay to see a doctor to get a prescription to go to your pharmacy, those are a lot of hoops to jump through.”

What’s next for the COVID-19 vaccine?

RFK Jr. fired everyone on the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). Then he created a new committee with “vaccine skeptics.”

Concern about the new restrictions, as well as this new panel, crosses paerty lines. In addition to criticism from Democratic senators during the Senate Finance Committee hearing, Republican Senator Bill Cassidy declared that “Kennedy’s new vaccine panel lacks experience and shouldn’t meet.”

ACIP is scheduled to meet September 18-19 on the matter of immunization recommendations and standard childhood shots for various diseases.

Until ACIP makes a final decision, we’re in a holding pattern.