In a move to streamline COVID-19 vaccination access for North Carolinians, the state's Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) has announced plans to no longer require standing orders for vaccines at pharmacies. As stated in a recent press release by the NCDHHS, this policy change will follow the latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations, which now allow vaccines to be administered without a prescription. The current standing orders will be rescinded as of Monday, Oct. 13, 2025.
Pharmacies have been given the green light to quickly adopt new protocols that are in line with the relaxed guidelines. According to the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), the updated recommendations now encourage anyone 6 months and older to consider the vaccine after consulting with health professionals. In what appears to be an effort to make sure to maintain vaccination rates, individuals seeking COVID-19 vaccines at pharmacies will find that a prescription is not needed, with insurances expected to cover the costs as before.
As per the NCDHHS press release, the standing orders first initiated on Sept. 12, facilitated over 80,000 vaccinations across the state by filling the gap ahead of the ACIP's formal recommendation. Dev Sangvai, the Secretary of NC Health and Human Services, stressed the importance of this initiative. "Our goal is to improve access and reduce barriers to getting and staying healthy and vaccines remain the best way to protect yourself, loved ones, and your community," he noted.
For North Carolinians looking to safeguard their health against COVID-19, immunizing pharmacists are now prepared to administer vaccines to individuals 7 years and older based on an individual risk-benefit discussion. Parents of younger children, under 7 years of age, should still contact their healthcare providers. The state recommends calling ahead to pharmacies and clinics to ensure vaccine availability, especially as certain providers may have experienced delays due to awaiting CDC approval. "We are grateful that North Carolinians who choose to receive the vaccine have an easily accessible path forward to do so," Sangvai explained in the NCDHHS press release.
The professional medical community continues to support the wider adoption of COVID-19 vaccines, with groups such as the American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommending vaccination across various age groups, particularly for individuals with risk factors or those who have never been vaccinated. Highlighting the importance of vaccination for those at higher risk, including pregnant women, these guidelines aim to mitigate severe illness and hospitalization in the upcoming respiratory season.
