RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — The rollout for updated COVID-19 vaccines looks much different this year. Vaccine requirements have been shifting across the country, including here in Virginia, leaving some people unsure of how to get protected.

New federal guidelines have narrowed the qualifications for the 2025-26 vaccine, while state pharmacy laws and shifting policies are adding a layer of confusion.

Many residents rely on retail pharmacies like CVS or Walgreens for easy access to the vaccine. But instead of a convenient walk-in appointment, some were turned around and told they would need a prescription to get the shot. Jim Dalton, 72, said the the new requirement caught him off guard.

"Any time you change something, it's going to be confusion," Dalton said. "Like me, I didn't even hear abo

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