George Washington University installs Plan B vending machine

George Washington College now has a merchandising machine for emergency contraception.

Why it issues: College students advocated for the merchandising machine after the overturn of Roe v. Wade sparked issues about entry to reproductive well being care, pupil physique president Christian Zidouemba tells Axios.

Particulars: The merchandising machine, positioned on the bottom ground of the College Pupil Middle, sells Plan B for $30. The remedy can price round $50 at pharmacies.

• The machine can be stocked with tampons, Tylenol, and Advil.

What they’re saying: Pupil authorities leaders Neharika Rao and Aiza Saeed say they wished to ensure college students might make selections about their reproductive well being on campus. They despatched out a campus-wide survey and acquired responses from 1,500 college students who voiced help for the mission — with the one concern being that the machine must be positioned in a discreet location.

• “While you wish to attain for emergency contraceptives, CVS — which is [near] the college — might be out [of stock], which might be nerve-racking,” Rao tells Axios. “So a lowered worth of $25 is absolutely useful to college students.”

Zoom out: George Washington College joins a rising variety of different U.S. schools with related merchandising machines, together with Boston College and Northeastern College.