American pharmacy retailer and second-largest U.S. chain
Kroger has been consolidating its store footprint, closing around 60 underperforming locations over 18 months as part of a broader restructuring. The company is accelerating moves after acquiring Giant Eagle, with some stores shifting to Kroger Marketplace formats and others staying market-adjusted.
Major US medical societies have issued unified guidance this week for flu, COVID-19 and RSV vaccines after the CDC’s advisory process has been disrupted. Updated COVID shots have FDA approval and manufacturers are shipping doses, but legal and policy disputes over federal recommendations continue to leave states and insurers uncertain about timing and coverage.
The Justice Department has reached a settlement with CVS over a 2024 lawsuit that accused the company of dispensing large quantities of opioids and other controlled substances to fuel profits, sidelining public health. The agreement requires additional safeguards to ensure prescriptions are medically appropriate, with no admission of wrongdoing by CVS.