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The Oregon Board of Pharmacy serves to promote and protect public health, safety, and welfare by ensuring high standards in the practice of pharmacy. We are deeply concerned by delayed federal guidance, which has caused confusion and created barriers to accessing updated COVID-19 vaccines at the start of respiratory season.

The Oregon Board of Pharmacy has not made any material changes to pharmacists’ authority to administer the COVID-19 vaccine in Oregon. The FDA approved the 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccine formulation, an update to the 2024-2025 formulation, for use on August 27th. The FDA's approval of the 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccine formulations was narrower than in previous years, limiting use to certain age groups, and those with high-risk medical conditions. The federal government has not adopted a protocol for this new formulation but may do so during the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) meeting on September 18-19th. This delay is causing confusion and disruption in access to this important vaccine.

Due to these circumstances, there are two ways to receive an updated COVID-19 vaccine at a pharmacy:

1. By provider prescription for those who meet use criteria, fulfilled by a pharmacist.

2. If your pharmacy has a clinical pharmacy agreement or collaborative drug therapy management agreement.

The existing ACIP recommendations reference the 2024-2025 formulation, and no protocol currently exists for the 2025-2026 formulation. This means that, in addition to narrower eligibility criteria imposed by the FDA, Oregonians may experience additional barriers to accessing COVID-19 vaccines at a pharmacy without a prescription until a protocol is adopted by the federal government. In response to this evolving situation, some pharmacies are now making changes to scheduled appointments. When the protocol becomes available and is adopted by the Oregon Board of Pharmacy, pharmacists will be able to prescribe and administer this new formulation.

HOW TO GET A VACCINE:

It is best to call ahead to the pharmacy to see what options are available for your specific circumstances. Oregonians can talk to their provider about getting a 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccine at their provider’s office or at the pharmacy with a provider prescription; when the federal protocol becomes available and is adopted by the Oregon Board of Pharmacy, pharmacists will have greater ability to provide vaccinations to those who are approved for use without a prescription.

Additional information about vaccine access can be viewed on OHA's website here: https://www.oregon.gov/oha/ph/preventionwellness/vaccinesimmunization/gettingimmunized/pages/gettingimmz.aspx?utm_source=OHA&utm_medium=egov_redirect&utm_campaign=https%3A%2F%2Fgetvaccinated.oregon.gov%252

WESTERN HEALTH ALLIANCE:

On September 3rd Governor Kotek entered a partnership with Governors from Washington and California to form the Western Health Alliance in response to arbitrary changes to vaccine recommendations and anticipated further politicization of health care. On September 4th, Hawaii officially joined the Alliance. In addition to aligning guidance from independent, established clinical authorities, the alliance will initially be focused on the impending fall respiratory season and ensuring state recommendations are evidence-based in response to broader, further changes at the federal government. Alliance states will work together to find alignment and best practices, and each state may have different processes and timelines for implementation based on the recommendation and legal authorities.