Pharmacies across Virginia are once again administering COVID-19 vaccines to anyone age 3 and older, after a period of confusion and shifting federal guidance left many residents unsure where to turn for updated immunizations. This change comes in the wake of revised recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which now advocate for "individual-based decision making" for COVID-19 vaccination for anyone aged 6 months and older for the 2025-26 season, according to the Virginia Department of Health (VDH).
The VDH officially revoked its September 10, 2025 order on October 11, 2025, following the CDC's updated guidance. That earlier order had temporarily allowed pharmacists to continue administering COVID-19 vaccines in the Commonwealth after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) revoked the emergency-use authorization that previously let patients get vaccinated without a prescription. For a brief period, this regulatory limbo led some pharmacies to halt vaccine administration altogether—even for those with valid prescriptions—until the VDH stepped in. Now, with the CDC's new stance, pharmacies can once again offer the vaccine to those aged 3 and up without a doctor’s note, restoring a sense of normalcy to the process.
For Virginia parents of young children, the CDC's recommendations mean that anyone under age 3 still must receive the COVID-19 vaccine from a healthcare provider, not a pharmacy. The CDC's approach, emphasizing personal choice for most age groups, comes at a time when vaccine mandates are being debated and, in some places, phased out. Notably, Virginia continues to require vaccinations for polio, measles, chickenpox, and Hepatitis B for most schoolchildren, reflecting a longstanding commitment to public health and disease prevention.
But COVID-19 isn’t the only vaccine in the spotlight. The CDC has also updated its immunization schedule for the combined measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (MMRV) vaccine. The new guidance, which is already consistent with common practice in Virginia, no longer recommends the use of the combined MMRV vaccine for children under age 4. Instead, children should receive the MMR and varicella vaccines separately, with the first dose of each administered at 12 to 15 months of age. The recommendations for the second dose—given at ages 4 to 6—remain unchanged. For children aged 4 and older, parents can choose between the combined MMRV vaccine or the separate shots.
These evolving guidelines are unfolding against a backdrop of heated national debate about vaccines, fueled in part by prominent political figures. According to reporting from Virginia Mercury and Politico, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has pushed anti-vaccine rhetoric, even as former President Donald Trump received both his annual flu shot and an updated COVID-19 booster during a recent physical at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
President Trump’s health has been a subject of public fascination and speculation for months. On October 10, 2025, he underwent what was described as a routine annual examination at Walter Reed. The report released by his physician, Dr. Sean Barbabella, painted a glowing picture: “President Donald J. Trump remains in exceptional health, exhibiting strong cardiovascular, pulmonary, neurological, and physical performance.” The report went on to note that his cardiac age is “14 years younger than his chronological age,” a remarkable statement for a man of 79. Trump himself seemed upbeat, posting on Truth Social, “I have never felt better, but nevertheless, these things must be done!”
Still, the exam came amid months of speculation about Trump's health, after frequent public appearances where he was seen with bruised hands and swollen ankles. These symptoms were not mentioned in Barbabella’s official report. Prior to the physical, Trump’s former physician and current Texas Representative Ronny Jackson told reporters, “They were doing some follow-up on his venous issue. He had been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, so there is a vascular study that was done.” The White House had confirmed in August that the president was dealing with chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), a condition common among seniors that causes blood to pool in the legs due to poor circulation. Trump’s medical history also includes high cholesterol, diverticulosis, and a colonoscopy last year, as noted by Barbabella in previous updates.
During his latest visit, Trump received both his annual influenza vaccine and the updated COVID-19 booster. The COVID-19 vaccine, notably, has been a point of contention in the administration. Secretary Kennedy, who has a long history of vaccine skepticism, described the COVID-19 vaccine in 2021 as “the deadliest vaccine ever made.” More recently, he defended the CDC’s policy shift to remove the COVID-19 vaccine from the recommended immunization schedule for healthy children and pregnant women, stating, “Anyone who wants a booster can get it, but it’s not recommended for healthy people.”
This tension between official guidance and political rhetoric has left many Americans confused about vaccine safety and necessity. Physicians and medical leaders in Virginia and nationwide have criticized efforts to phase out vaccine mandates, calling such moves “insane and stupid.” According to Virginia Mercury, healthcare professionals in the state are weary of the politicization of vaccines, arguing that public health decisions should be based on science, not politics.
In schools, the practical impact of these policy shifts is significant. With the CDC’s new stance, parents of children under age 4 must ensure their kids receive the MMR and varicella vaccines separately, while those with older children have more flexibility. The clarity on COVID-19 vaccine access at pharmacies is expected to help boost immunization rates, especially as Virginia heads into the winter months when respiratory illnesses typically surge.
Despite the noise, the facts remain: COVID-19 vaccines are available at Virginia pharmacies for those age 3 and up, no prescription needed. Children under 3 still require a healthcare provider’s involvement. The MMRV vaccine is now reserved for children 4 and older, with younger kids getting the shots separately. Meanwhile, the state continues to require key vaccinations for school entry, upholding its commitment to disease prevention amid a shifting national landscape.
As the dust settles from regulatory changes and political squabbles, Virginia parents, patients, and healthcare providers can at least count on clearer guidance for the year ahead—and, perhaps, a little less chaos at the pharmacy counter.
