OVID-19 Vaccine

As lawmakers prepare legislation to roll back mandates, the surgeon general has floated going one step further: banning mRNA vaccines. Medical experts say that would have public health implications.

The Board of Pharmacy cited a state law that allows pharmacists to administer FDA-approved vaccines. Publix and Walgreens said they would be offering the shot without a prescription to eligible recipients.

Although the FDA has approved the vaccines for anyone 65 or older and anyone at least 6 months old who is at risk of a severe COVID infection, barriers to coverage and access persist.

Should you get vaccinated? Will your insurer pay for it? And will you still be able to find a vaccine? KFF Health News tries to sort out where things stand.

Dr. Joseph Ladapo also praised the federal government's decision in May to no longer recommend COVID-19 mRNA vaccines for healthy children and pregnant women.

The health care measure also covers rules related to medical marijuana treatment centers and labs, as well as licensing of out-of-state physicians, nurses and PAs.

The biggest questions are whether people can still choose to receive the vaccine even if it's not recommended for them and whether insurance will cover the cost.

Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo praised the federal move as vindication of the state’s early and controversial decisions to push back against mRNA vaccine use.

In a final report unsealed on Tuesday, the grand jury recommended policy changes including increasing transparency around clinical trials and banning advertisements for pharmaceutical drugs.

There's a new bulletin from Florida's surgeon general. Vaccine experts and historians interviewed for this article can’t remember another state health leader urging residents to avoid an FDA-approved vaccine.

The state agency advises people to skip the shot because it doesn’t target the current dominant variant. A USF epidemiologist says it will still be effective but suggests first asking whether you need the booster.

Although public health officials recommend the newly approved COVID vaccine for everyone age 6 months and older, it may make more sense to wait until closer to the holiday season.