RICHARD CRAVER Winston-Salem Journal

The Oct. 1 start of the 2025-26 infectious diseases season is arriving with a stark dose of reality for many North Carolina residents wanting — if not needing — to boost their protection against the latest COVID strains.

With the goals of helping resolve, or at least address vaccine confusion, Gov. Josh Stein took action Friday by authorizing an executive standing order — effective immediately — in response to the Trump administration’s current federal health guidelines.

The standing order enables people ages 65 and older, as well as those ages 18 to 64 with at least one high-risk condition, to get the 2026-26 COVID vaccine booster dose without a prescription through the services of a pharmacy chain or local pharmacy.

Typical high-risk conditions in

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