In a groundbreaking shift for reproductive rights, major pharmacy chains Walgreens and CVS have announced the availability of abortion pills for purchase without a prescription in select states, marking a significant milestone in access to reproductive healthcare. This move is poised to reshape the landscape of abortion access, offering convenience and privacy to individuals seeking this vital healthcare option.

According to The New York Times officials at Walgreens and CVS have received certification to, “dispense mifepristone under guidelines that the Food and Drug Administration issued last year.” The medication will be available in stores only in select states at first and requires a prescription to acquire and will not be available by mail. CVS is said to begin to dispense the drug in all of its pharmacies in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. 

Mifepristone is used to end pregnancy during the early stages of pregnancy. It blocks a natural substance progesterone which is needed for a pregnancy to continue. CVS already has the medication listed on their official website including information on how it works and how to get a prescription if you need it.

According to The Washington Times president Biden stated, “Today is an important milestone in ensuring access to mifepristone, a drug that has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration as safe and effective for more than 20 years.”

Although this is a large step in the right direction for reproductive rights, it will not be easy. Abortion oppositionists have taken to suing the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) demanding that mifepristone be removed from the market immediately. An appeals court has ruled that the drug must not be dispensed through mail and requires an in-person doctor visit for a prescription.