Major drugstores limit the amount of Plan B a customer can purchase. Drugstore chain CVS Health said it began limiting purchases of Plan B and Aftera to three per order on Saturday. A representative for Walgreens doesn’t have a purchase limit on emergency contraceptives. In contrast, a Walmart representative stated an online limit on product purchases, which may change as demands increase.
“We have ample supply of Plan B and Aftera across all of our CVS Pharmacy stores and CVS.com. To ensure equitable access and consistent supply on store shelves, we’ve implemented a temporary purchase limit of three on these products,” a statement from Ethan Slavin with CVS Health said.
After the Supreme Court overturned Roe vs. Wade, people took to social media to urge others to stock up on the contraceptive pills. Others said potential shortages could impact those in need and urged people to fund organizations that help distribute the pills to keep them available.
How Plan B and Aftera Works
Plan B and Aftera, known as “the morning-after” pills, are brand names for levonorgestrel, an emergency contraceptive. Emergency contraceptive pills don’t require a prescription and purchased OTC. The medication should be taken 72 hours after unprotected sex, but the sooner, the more effective it is. Neither should be used as a regular form of birth control. In addition, women should continue their birth control even if they’ve used Plan B or Aftera. Please note that these pills are different from abortion pills, which require a prescription.
On Monday, Planned Parenthood advised against stockpiling emergency contraceptives. They have a limited shelf life, and hoarding supplies could limit access for women with immediate needs.
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