COVID vaccines will now be more widely available in Rhode Island this fall and winter with Gov. Dan McKee’s announcement Friday that pharmacists can vaccinate people under age 65 with no pre-existing medical conditions, and health insurers should cover all COVID vaccines at no cost to patients.

Massachusetts and Connecticut have taken similar steps to preserve access to the COVID vaccine for all groups recommended by major medical academies.

The move follows growing confusion in Rhode Island over who is eligible for the COVID shots and whether insurance will cover them.

The Food and Drug Administration last month narrowed the criteria for who can get the shots to people 65 and older, or people under 65 with underlying health conditions that make them at increased risk for severe illness

See Full Page