CVS limits purchases of Plan B pills following Supreme Court ruling on abortion
Less than a week after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, CVS pharmacy announced it would begin limiting the number of emergency contraceptive pills people can buy at once, CNBC reports.
The move to limit the purchase of morning-after pills was to ensure "equitable access and consistent supply on store shelves," CVS explained, adding that it had an ample supply of pills. People can now only buy up to three packs of the pill per order for the "Plan B" and "Aftera" brands of medication, which typically cost $49.99 and $39.99.
People reportedly began buying large quantities of the products after the Supreme Court ended federal protections for abortion and some social media users began "to urge people to stock up on contraceptive pills," CNBC says.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Unlike an abortion pill, which terminates a pregnancy, a "levonorgestrel morning-after pill — like Plan B One-Step — can lower your chance of getting pregnant by 75-89 percent if you take it within three days after unprotected sex," Planned Parenthood notes. A Plan B pill can be purchased without an ID or prescription, while abortion pills require a prescription and involve two doses taken within 10 weeks of pregnancy, the Kaiser Family Foundation writes.
Other drug store chains such as Walgreens have not put a restriction on emergency contraceptives, a spokesperson for Walgreens notes. However, a representative for Walmart said Tuesday that there are online purchase limits that are subject to change as the demand continues to fluctuate.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kelsee Majette has worked as a social media editor at The Week since 2022. In 2019, she got her start in local television as a digital producer and fill-in weather reporter at NTV News. Kelsee also co-produced a lifestyle talk show while working in Nebraska and later transitioned to 13News Now as a digital content producer.
-
Seattle Children's Hospital sues Texas over 'sham' demand for transgender medical records
Speed Read Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton subpoenaed records of any Texan who received gender-affirming care at the Washington hospital
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Afghanistan has a growing female suicide problem
Speed Read The Taliban has steadily whittled away women's and girls' rights in Afghanistan over the past 2 years, prompting a surge in depression and suicide
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US life expectancy rose in 2022 but not to pre-pandemic levels
Speed Read Life expectancy is slowly crawling back up
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Vallance diaries: Boris Johnson 'bamboozled' by Covid science
Speed Read Then PM struggled to get his head around key terms and stats, chief scientific advisor claims
By The Week UK Published
-
An increasing number of dog owners are 'vaccine hesitant' about rabies
Speed Read A new survey points to canine vaccine hesitancy
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Anger may be a powerful motivator for tough goals, new study suggests
Speed Read Keeping your cool might actually be less efficient than letting your anger drive you
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
A tropical skin disease is making the rounds in the US
Speed Read Leishmaniasis is endemic to the country and can cause ulcers and disfiguration
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
FDA moves to ban menthol cigarettes
Speed Read It's been a long time coming
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published