Boxes of the drug mifepristone sit on a shelf on the West Alabama Women’s Center in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on March 16, 2022.

Allen G. Breed/AP

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Allen G. Breed/AP

Boxes of the drug mifepristone sit on a shelf on the West Alabama Women’s Center in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on March 16, 2022.

Allen G. Breed/AP

CVS and Walgreens, two of the nation’s largest retail pharmacies, obtained federal certification to start shelling out mifepristone, one among two medicine utilized in medication abortions, in states the place it’s authorized to take action, the businesses individually confirmed to NPR.

CVS will begin filling prescriptions for mifepristone in Massachusetts and Rhode Island within the weeks forward, with eventual plans to broaden to different states the place the drug is authorized on a rolling foundation, in accordance with a CVS spokeswoman.

Walgreens will start shelling out the capsule at a few of its shops in New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, California and Illinois inside every week, a spokesman for the corporate mentioned.

“We are beginning a phased rollout in select locations to allow us to ensure quality, safety, and privacy for our patients, providers, and team members,” the Walgreens assertion learn.

The two pharmacies obtained certification from the Food and Drug Administration to fill prescriptions and dispense the generally used capsule, increasing entry to abortion at a time when many states are further restricting a path to the procedure.

Last 12 months, the FDA handed a rule that permits pharmacies to fill prescriptions for abortion drugs. Before this rule change was finalized, pregnant folks needed to get the drug straight from their docs or by mail through telehealth consultations.

Mifepristone stays on the middle of an ongoing authorized battle between anti-abortion activists and the FDA. Anti-abortion rights teams sued the company in 2022 over the approval of mifepristone — a drug that had been in use for greater than 20 years.

A federal choose ruled against the abortion capsule final 12 months. But, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear this case later this month.

President Biden referred to as the transfer to certify the sale by the 2 main pharmacies “an important milestone in ensuring access to mifepristone.”

He said in a statement, “I encourage all pharmacies that want to pursue this option to seek certification.”