Nevada pharmacies are currently unable to administer the newly authorized COVID-19 vaccines due to state regulations requiring a federal health agency recommendation, which has not yet been issued. When customers attempt to schedule a COVID-19 vaccination appointment at major pharmacies like CVS, Walgreens, or grocery store pharmacies, they are met with notifications that the service is unavailable or find that the COVID-19 vaccine option is missing entirely.
According to CVS, this restriction also applies to pharmacies in Massachusetts and New Mexico. These states require a recommendation from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), which works under the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), before pharmacies can begin distributing the new vaccine. The FDA recently authorized four different COVID-19 vaccines for the 2025-2026 season, but only for certain populations: those aged 65 and older, and people with underlying conditions starting at six months of age, depending on the formula. Previously, vaccines were approved for all age groups.
The ACIP is scheduled to meet on September 18-19 and is expected to discuss recommendations for the COVID-19 vaccine. Until ACIP issues its guidance, pharmacies in Nevada, New Mexico, and Massachusetts are unable to administer the latest COVID-19 vaccines, despite FDA authorization for certain groups.
The Southern Nevada Health District (SNHD) confirmed that the updated vaccine is not available at its clinics, though the previous formula remains in stock. SNHD operates three clinics in East Las Vegas, Henderson, and Mesquite, and has stated its commitment to providing COVID-19 vaccines to eligible individuals, including those 65 and older and people with underlying health conditions that increase their risk for severe illness.
