Costco on Saturday became the last drugstore chain to announce that it would start offering coronavirus vaccines to Bay Area residents.
Starting this week, Costco will be administering vaccines, usually Modern, in select stores across California, including one in Marin County, according to a company statement released Saturday.
The Costco store located at 300 Vintage Way in Novato will be the first in the Bay Area to offer vaccination consultations. Qualified people – currently limited to essential health professionals – can make an appointment at the Novato store for as early as Friday, according to Costco’s reservation page.
Although Costco is a member-based company, it does not appear that Californians need to be members to sign up for an appointment. But if health workers do not try to make an appointment, it will be canceled, warns the company’s reservation page.
The supermarket chain will also offer vaccines in select locations in Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. California is currently one of only half a dozen states where Costco is offering the vaccine.
“Costco is firmly committed to helping protect the health and safety of our members and employees and to serving our communities,” says the company’s statement. “Our pharmacies will administer COVID-19 vaccines as soon as they are available, in accordance with the CDC and state guidelines.”
Costco representatives did not immediately respond to a request for more details, including when the eligibility pool could be expanded and whether other stores in the bay area could also start offering vaccines.
Costco joins a handful of drugstore chains, including CVS, Walgreens, Safeway and Rite Aid that are now offering COVID-19 vaccines in California.
CVS is offering vaccines for people over 65 and health professionals. Eligible persons can make an appointment at CVS.com, by calling 800-746-7287 or through the CVS Pharmacy app.
Walgreens is also offering the coronavirus vaccine in parts of the bay area, including Contra Costa County. People can make an appointment online at Walgreens.com.