The Brief

PHOENIX - As flu season approaches, many Arizonans seeking their updated COVID-19 booster are finding they can't get it without a prescription, and that some providers aren't providing them yet.

The backstory:

This issue stems from a lack of formal recommendations from a key federal committee, which impacts who can get the shot and how they can pay for it.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has narrowed eligibility for the latest booster to people 65 and older and those with underlying health conditions.

However, under Arizona state law, pharmacists cannot administer vaccines like the COVID-19 booster until the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) formally recommends it.

Local perspective:

"Is this going to be the cold that, at 70

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