Do I Need a Prescription to Get a COVID Vaccine in Colorado in 2025?

It's been well over five years since we first heard about something called "COVID-19."

When the world shut down in March of 2020, we had no clue what life would be like a month from then, let alone half a decade later.

Approximately 7,100, 227 people died from this virus all across the globe since then, according to the World Health Organization.

COVID-19 in Colorado: Five Years After the Pandemic

As we slowly move on from this global pandemic, people are still trying to take precautions. COVID hasn't been wiped off the face of the Earth, it's transitioned from being a pandemic crisis to an endemic, according to NPR.

This is much more manageable, but it's still something that many of us will have to live with in our day to day life.

"It is still a very significant problem, but one that can now be managed against the backdrop of many public health threats and not as sort of a singular pandemic threat,” said the deputy director for science at the CDC's coronavirus division, Aron Hall to officials last year.

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Federal Vaccine Changes Create Uncertainty in Colorado

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) still recommends that most adults get the COVID-19 vaccine.

However, on August 27th, United States Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced that emergency use authorizations for COVID-19 vaccinations have been terminated, according to reports.

Officials from  RFK Jr.'s department said that the changes to COVID vaccination protocols do "not affect access to these vaccines for healthy individuals. These vaccines remain available to those who choose them in consultation with their healthcare provider."

Colorado Takes Action to Protect Vaccine Access

In response to this, Colorado announced a public health order to make sure that people in the state still had vaccine access, according to a report from Colorado Public Radio.

Polis Expands COVID Vaccine Access for Coloradans

The Centennial State's medical officer, Dr. Ned Calonge, issued a standing order effective on Friday, September 5th. This order will allow pharmacists to provide COVID-19 vaccines to people regardless of  if they have a prescription or not.

Colorado Pharmacies Can Now Give Shots Without Prescriptions

This changes the eligibility set in place by the federal government (high risk, those over 65 years of age) significantly, according to Colorado News Line. Coloradans between the ages of 5 and 64 who “desire their protection from COVID-19”  can still get one!

While pharmacies in Colorado initially required prescriptions for the COVID-19 vaccine, the state’s new orders now allow nearly all residents to access one without needing a doctor’s visit.

Governor Jared Polis said about the situation, "Colorado is committed to empowering individuals to make choices to protect their own health and safety.”

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