“The boosters being released on top of flu season has decimated my pharmacy. We can’t help anyone anymore.”

As chains such as CVS and Walgreens try to protect themselves from criminal penalties over abortion bans, their staff are left confused, and patients with chronic illnesses struggle to access treatment.

The retail health care giant instructed pharmacies to check why customers need medications such as methotrexate—and to refuse to provide them if they can’t prove they’re not for an abortion.