Gov. Stein announces standing orders to increase COVID-19 vaccine accessibility

Gov. Josh Stein announced Sept. 12 standing orders to increase access to COVID-19 vaccines, which will now be available without a prescription to seniors 65 years or older and adults over 18 years who meet certain criteria.

Until now, those wanting to receive a vaccine needed a prescription from their provider to receive one, a change made under Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s tenure as U.S. health and human services secretary.

“Health care providers and pharmacists recommend vaccination as a safe and effective tool to protect yourself and your community from COVID-19,” Stein said in a prepared statement. “This action ensures that North Carolinians most at risk who want protection from COVID-19 can get it as we enter the cold and flu season.”

For those that are ages 18-64, they qualify to receive the vaccine if they have at least one high risk-condition.

Without the standing orders, Miranda Smith with Burke County Public Health said that individuals at highest risk, including older adults, people with chronic conditions, and residents without access to a primary care provider, would face more barriers when trying to get vaccinated. Those groups, she stated, would be most negatively impacted by the loss of access.

Last year, according to the Governor’s office, North Carolina had more than 120,000 emergency department visits for COVID-like illnesses, which resulted in more than 21,600 hospitalizations.

“Vaccines remain an important part of overall health and well-being and are one of the most effective means available to prevent severe illness, hospitalization, and death,” the release stated. “They help protect the health of children and adults, their families, and entire communities from the spread of infectious diseases.”

Per state law, immunizing pharmacists in North Carolina are permitted to administer vaccines that the federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends. That committee has not given its recommendations for the vaccines this season. The standing orders serve as a prescription for immunizing pharmacists to administer the vaccines.

Most pharmacies already have the updated 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccine available, but because the seasonal vaccine formulations were recently approved by the FDA, it might not be available at all locations. People should call their pharmacy to ask if the vaccine is available and if they need to make an appointment.

So far, several retail pharmacies have announced that they have the vaccine, including, but not limited to CVS Pharmacy, Food Lion, Ingles Markets, Publix Pharmacies, Sam’s Club, Walgreens, and Walmart. To receive a vaccine, people should bring their insurance card if they have one and be prepared to answer how old they are and whether they have a qualifying condition.

Standing orders are in effect for the 2025–26 COVID-19 vaccines, and Smith urged residents to plan ahead by scheduling appointments with their primary care providers early in case they are not continued next season.

North Carolina isn’t the only state to increase access to COVID-19 vaccines. Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Massachusetts, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin have all issued orders to increase accessibility.