State leaders are considering ways to preserve access to COVID-19 vaccines in Minnesota if federal health authorities decide later this month to discourage or limit their use.
Minnesota already empowers pharmacists to prescribe COVID-19 vaccines without prescriptions, regardless of any guidance from the federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), which under President Donald Trump is largely composed of vaccine skeptics.
Pharmacists in the state need only comply with requirements from the Food and Drug Administration, which last month approved the latest COVID-19 vaccines for the elderly and adults and some children with underlying health conditions.
If ACIP discourages some people from receiving these vaccines, it won’t have as much impact in Minnesota as in other states, said Aaron Patterson, interim executive director of the Minnesota Board of Pharmacy. Pharmacists can help by letting eligible patients know that the vaccines should remain available.
“There’s just a lot of chaos and noise, and a lot of states doing different things,” he said. “We believe there is an opportunity for pharmacists to help clarify the message for Minnesotans.”
Gov. Tim Walz is considering other steps to preserve vaccine access for Minnesotans if any shifts in federal policy make it harder for them to get appointments or insurance coverage, according to a spokeswoman.
Medica, HealthPartners and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota issued statements late last week affirming that they will pay for the shots, when recommended. It is unclear whether changes by ACIP or the Trump administration could alter their coverage policies.
Minnesotans reported some problems receiving the latest COVID-19 vaccines, which arrived in pharmacies last week.
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