Due to the heightened demand for emergency contraceptives following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, some leading retailers have stated that they will restrict the quantity people can purchase.
Emergency contraceptive pills are intended to be taken up to three days after unprotected sex. They are offered over the counter under brand names such as Plan B One-Step, Take Action, My Way, Option 2, Preventeza, AfterPill, My Choice, Aftera, and EContra.
For now, CVS allows each consumer to purchase up to three packs of Plan B and Aftera. The drugstore chain has an “ample supply” of the medications both online and in-store, according to a spokesman on Monday, but the cap is intended to “ensure equitable access and consistent supply on store shelves.”
Rite Aid has also begun restricting an individual’s buying quantity for the pills.
“Due to increased demand, at this time, we are limiting purchases of Plan B contraceptive pills to three per customer,” said a Rite Aid spokesperson.
A Walmart spokesperson stated, “Many of our products have online purchase limits in place. During times of fluctuating demand, these limits may change,” The Epoch Times reported.
Two emergency contraceptives, Plan B and Take Action, were listed on the Walgreens website on Tuesday as being unavailable for shipping but available for pickup and same-day delivery in some locations.
The company could still match the demand in-store, according to a spokeswoman. Thus there are currently no restrictions on purchases.
Emergency contraceptive pills, widely referred to as “morning-after pills” or “Plan B,” primarily prevent ovulation, or if this is unsuccessful, they may also block a fertilized egg from binding to the uterus.
Pills under the “Plan B” moniker are distinct from abortion medication, often known as “Plan C,” which calls for a prescription and entails administering several drugs to end a pregnancy.
Since the Supreme Court overruled Roe v. Wade, states now have the option to expand, restrict, or ban the procedure. Presently, Texas law allows clinics to perform abortions for up to six weeks of pregnancy.