Nevada among three states where CVS won’t offer new COVID shots

Pharmacy giant bows to state regulations over federal push

Posted By

Brittany Sheehan  

Nevada News and BViews

Your local CVS might not be offering the new COVID shots this fall. And for many conservatives, that’s actually good news.

CVS just announced it won’t give COVID-19 vaccines to people in Nevada, Massachusetts, and New Mexico. In 13 other states, you can only get the shot if your doctor writes you a prescription first. The pharmacy chain says it’s following the “current regulatory environment.”

This might sound like a health care story. But it’s really about something conservatives care deeply about: who gets to make the rules.

Why This Matters to Limited Government Supporters

Here’s the thing. The Food and Drug Administration just approved new COVID shots for people 65 and older. They also approved them for younger folks at high risk. But the Centers for Disease Control hasn’t recommended them yet. That meeting happens next month.

CVS is caught in the middle. Some states say pharmacists can only give vaccines the CDC recommends. Other states give pharmacists more freedom to decide.

This shows how federalism is supposed to work. Different states make different rules. People can choose where to live based on policies they like. It’s not Washington telling everyone what to do.

The company explained: “CVS follows state-level regulations, and in some states, pharmacists are not permitted to administer vaccines that have not been recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.”

RFK Jr.’s Role in the Changes

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been behind major changes to vaccine policy. He rescinded the emergency use authorizations for COVID vaccines that allowed broad access during the Biden administration.

Kennedy wrote on X: “The emergency use authorizations for Covid vaccines, once used to justify broad mandates on the general public during the Biden administration, are now rescinded.”

Kennedy also fired all 17 members of the CDC’s vaccine advisory committee in June and replaced them with new appointees. This has created uncertainty about which vaccines will get official recommendations.

For conservatives who opposed vaccine mandates, Kennedy’s approach represents a major shift away from government-pushed mass vaccination programs. Instead of automatic recommendations for everyone, the new system requires people to talk with their doctors first.

Nevada Takes a Stand

Right here in Nevada, our state is saying “not so fast” to the federal government. Nevada lawmakers have been careful about vaccine mandates. They’ve pushed back against federal overreach before.

This CVS decision shows Nevada is still protecting its residents from rushed federal policies. The state wants to wait and see what the CDC says before allowing pharmacists to give out new shots.

That’s exactly what limited government looks like in action. Nevada officials are doing their job. They’re protecting Nevadans from policies that might not be right for our state.

The Bigger Picture

Remember when the federal government tried to force businesses to make employees get vaccinated? Many conservatives pushed back hard. They said it wasn’t the federal government’s job to make medical decisions for people.

This CVS situation shows states still have power. They can say no to federal agencies that move too fast. They can protect their citizens from policies they think go too far.

Some states are being extra careful. They want to wait for the CDC to weigh in before letting pharmacists give out new shots. Other states trust their pharmacists to make good decisions.

What Critics Are Saying

Not everyone is happy about this. Some public health experts worry people won’t get vaccines they need. They think CVS should offer the shots everywhere.

Dr. Anthony Fauci and other federal health officials have pushed for broad vaccine access. They argue that limiting where people can get shots puts lives at risk.

Some Democrats in Congress are already calling for investigations. They want to know why CVS is “discriminating” against certain states.

But conservatives see this differently. They see states standing up for their rights. They see businesses following local rules instead of federal pressure.

What Happens Next

The CDC vaccine advisers meet next month. They might recommend the new shots for everyone. Or they might be more limited in who should get them.

If the CDC gives a full recommendation, more states might allow pharmacists to give the shots. But Nevada and other states might still say no. That’s their right.

This could become a bigger fight. The Biden administration wants high vaccination rates. Some states want to move more slowly. That tension isn’t going away.

What Nevada Conservatives Can Do

First, support your state lawmakers when they stand up to federal overreach. Call them. Thank them. Let them know you appreciate it when they put state rights first.

Second, pay attention to Nevada’s vaccine policies. Make sure your representatives know how you feel. Local politics matter more than many people realize.

Third, vote in state elections. The people who make these decisions work for you. Hold them accountable.

This CVS story shows the Constitution still works. States can push back against federal agencies. They can protect their citizens from policies that don’t make sense locally.

That’s not anti-vaccine. It’s pro-choice. It’s pro-federalism. It’s what the founders had in mind when they created our system of government.

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Brittany Sheehan is a Las Vegas-based mother, policy advocate and grassroots leader. She is active in local politics, successful in campaign work and passionate about liberty.