In the midst of rising COVID-19 cases, CVS Pharmacy has made a decision that puts vulnerable Mainers at risk. As of August 2025, CVS now requires a doctor’s prescription for anyone in Maine to receive a COVID-19 vaccine—even though, for years, these vaccines were safely and easily available at pharmacy counters across the state.

This new requirement creates a dangerous and unnecessary barrier to protection. Many Mainers do not have a primary care doctor. Others can't afford the time off work, the transportation, or the out-of-pocket cost of a medical appointment just to get a vaccine. These barriers hit hardest in rural areas, low-income communities, and among working families who already face challenges accessing healthcare.

We’re calling on CVS to reverse course—immediately.

The FDA’s narrowed guidelines already reduce who can receive the updated COVID-19 vaccine. But CVS has gone a step further by requiring a prescription even in cases where the federal government allows over-the-counter access. CVS is one of the largest pharmacy chains in Maine, with 26 locations statewide. Their decision could have a ripple effect across the healthcare system, making vaccines harder and more expensive to get for thousands.

Dr. Nirav Shah, Maine’s former CDC director, has warned that this type of policy amounts to “death by a thousand cuts”—making access so difficult that many will give up altogether. This is the opposite of what public health should be.

We urge CVS Pharmacy leadership to remove the prescription requirement in Maine and allow COVID-19 vaccines to be administered as they have been in the past: conveniently, safely, and without needless red tape.

Every delay in access puts lives at risk. CVS must act now.

Sign this petition if you believe vaccine access should be easier, not harder.