COVID-19 Vaccines Update from the Department of Consumer Protection
September 10, 2025
As of the date of this publication, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has not published updated recommendations for COVID-19 vaccines since December 2024. The Department of Consumer Protection (“Department”), the licensing and enforcement agency for pharmacies and pharmacy personnel, is receiving inquiries regarding a pharmacist’s authority to order, prescribe and administer the COVID-19 vaccine. In the absence of federal clarity on the use of the COVID-19 vaccine, the Department is issuing this guidance for pharmacists and pharmacy staff related to ordering, prescribing and administering the 2025-2026 seasonal COVID-19 vaccine.
CT General Statutes Section 20-633 permits pharmacists to order, prescribe and administer any vaccine not included on the National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Adult Immunization Schedule to any patient who is eighteen years of age or older, provided the vaccine administration instructions for such vaccine are available on the National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (“CDC”) website. In the absence of 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccine administration instructions on the CDC website, the Department recommends pharmacists utilize the 2024-2025 vaccine administration instructions issued by the CDC until the later of:
- thirty days from September 10, 2025, or
- upon inclusion of the 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccine on the CDC’s Adult Immunization Schedule.
A pharmacist may continue to order, prescribe and administer all Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) approved or authorized COVID-19 vaccines to any patient who is eighteen years of age or older utilizing the 2024-2025 vaccine administration instructions from the CDC until the later of the dates set forth above.
In addition, pharmacists may administer all FDA approved or authorized COVID-19 vaccines upon receipt of a verbal or written prescription from a prescribing practitioner.
While federal actions may restrict eligibility for adults age eighteen (18) to sixty-five (65) with no underlying conditions, prescribers and pharmacists may order, prescribe and administer the COVID-19 vaccine to individuals who fall outside the eligibility criteria authorized by the FDA, consistent with “off-label” use.
The 2024-2025 COVID-19 seasonal vaccine formulations are not subject to this guidance and may continue to be administered in accordance with their prior FDA approval.
Questions? Email vaccine-related inquiries to DCP.DrugControl@ct.gov.
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