The attempt to inoculate the country against a virus that has killed more than 500,000 Americans is catching on. CVS Health on Wednesday began scheduling appointments to offer COVID-19 vaccines in a total of 17 states, with about 570,000 doses available to be injected into arms as of Thursday, according to the pharmacy chain.
The drugstore giant said it was expanding drugstore locations that offer vaccines to populations eligible to include Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Louisiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania through a federal program administered by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
CVS began offering vaccines earlier this month in pharmacies in 11 states: California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas and Virginia.
The White House in February 17 He said he was doubling the number of doses delivered to retail pharmacies in the United States, expanding shipments by 1 million doses sent to 6,500 pharmacies the previous week. He said 2 million doses a week would be sent to points of sale going forward and will eventually include 40,000 stores across the country.
CVS is “making significant progress in reaching vulnerable communities, which will continue to be an essential part of our vaccination effort,” said Karen S. Lynch, president and chief executive of CVS Health, on Wednesday in a statement the press.
CVS, which operates about 10,000 pharmacies across the country, said it has the capacity to administer 20 to 25 million injections per month. Those who wish to make an appointment can do so through CVS.com or through the company’s pharmacy application. Those without online access can call customer service at (800) 746-7287.
Walgreens and others speeding up photos
The CVS announcement follows a similar one from Walgreens, which last week said that starting February 25, or Thursday, it would start distributing its weekly allocation of more than 480,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Walgreens listed the following states and jurisdictions where the vaccine would be available: Arizona, Alaska, California, Chicago, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, New York City , North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
Walgreens advised qualified individuals to make an appointment by visiting its website or through the state health department. The company manages more than 9,000 pharmacies across the country.
The federal government earlier this month began sending supplies of COVID-19 vaccines to 21 national drugstore and independent drugstore chains in a move to speed up distribution. Pharmacies and retailers are also partnering with states to help speed up the immunization effort, with the public being urged to get in line by making an appointment online or over the phone.
The fate of federal doses varies by state. In Alabama, for example, pharmacies within Walmart stores will receive federal shipments of the vaccine, while in California, CVS and Rite Aid are expected to receive doses. Vaccine shipments are going to Hy-Vee and CPESN USA locations in Iowa and to Albertsons, Costco and Health Mart in Washington State. Search for your status here.
Kroger, Walmart and Rite Aid
Other major chains involved in the effort include Kroger, the country’s largest supermarket chain. It recently unveiled a scheduling tool that can manage 250,000 requests daily. Kroger Health is now receiving and administering vaccines in 1,300 of its 2,200 pharmacies and 220 clinics in 35 states. “If all pharmacies start receiving doses of the vaccine, Kroger Health will be able to administer an average of almost 500,000 vaccines per week,” he said in a press release.
Kroger pharmacies have a limited supply of the vaccine and are now offering it in some locations in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Utah, Washington , West Virginia and Wisconsin, according to a company update. Consumers can check availability for scheduling here.
More than 1,000 Walmart and Sam’s Club pharmacies in 22 states are receiving federal vaccine funding. This includes Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Wyoming.
The retail giant is also giving vaccines using state allocation in 11 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. (You can see if a Walmart pharmacy near you is administering the COVID-19 vaccine here and confirm eligibility and schedule an appointment here.)
“Ninety percent of the country lives less than 10 miles from a Walmart. We are at the center of many rural and underserved communities and are committed to providing access to vaccines as groups qualify,” Dr. Cheryl Pegus, vice president Walmart executive chairman, Health and Wellness, said in a press release.
Rite Aid is receiving federal doses at some of its pharmacies in five states and two municipal jurisdictions: California, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania and its largest city, Philadelphia and New York, a spokesman said in an email. to CBS MoneyWatch. “These allocations will complement existing and ongoing state and local allocations,” he added.
The Rite Aid chain, which operates 2,450 stores in 18 states, has limited information on vaccination registration here.
Publix, Costco and Mejer
Publix is administering the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to eligible individuals at 593 Publix pharmacies in 41 Florida counties, using doses provided by the state and federal government. Publix pharmacies also gave the vaccine to people in Georgia, South Carolina and Virginia. The company’s online booking system can be found here.
Costco is offering a limited number of COVID-19 vaccines, usually Modern, in some locations in New York City, Oregon, Puerto Rico and Washington, the warehouse club said in an update on its website.
Albertsons Companies, which operates more than 1,700 pharmacies in its supermarkets in 34 states, is also receiving direct federal vaccine funding. Consumers can check availability on the various individual banners of the food and drug retailer: ACME, Albertsons, Carrs, Haggen, Jewel-Osco, Pavilion, Randalls, Safeway, Shaw’s, Star Market, Tom Thumb, United Supermarkets and Vons.
At Lucky Pharmacy, owned by Albertsons in Salt Lake City, Utah, the COVID-19 vaccine is advertised as “coming soon”.
Hy-Vee runs 275 stores in eight midwestern states and is offering federal doses of the vaccine at some of its pharmacies in Iowa and South Dakota. Appointments can be made here.
Meijer plans to administer up to 25,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine starting the week of February 8 at clinics at its Michigan stores. State residents aged 65 and over can pre-register on the company’s website. The retailer operates 256 super centers and supermarkets in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Michigan.
Ahold Delhaize and Southwestern Grocers
HEB, which manages more than 400 stores in Texas and Mexico, is offering the vaccine in some pharmacies in Texas. Check the availability of new appointments here.
Ahold Delhaize companies are also offering the vaccine. This includes Stop & Shop, which manages 250 pharmacies in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York and New Jersey. Hannaford is now scheduling appointments in two of the five states in which it operates, New York and Massachusetts, and its Giant Food brand is offering scheduling links to customers in Washington, DC, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia. Visit https://giantfood.com/pages/covid-info for details.
Southeastern Grocers began giving 8,100 free doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine from February 11 to qualified customers in select Winn-Dixie, Fresco y Más and Harveys supermarkets across Florida.
Some of Topco Associates’ various brands are also receiving federal vaccine shipments. Acme Fresh Market is offering vaccination appointments at its pharmacies in Ohio, although on the last check they were full. Check for updates here.
Big Y is offering the vaccine at pharmacies in Massachusetts and Connecticut. Wegmans is offering injections at some pharmacies in Massachusetts, New York and Pennsylvania.
Giant eagle, Food City and Price Chopper
Topco’s Giant Eagle is in line to offer the vaccine at pharmacies in Indiana, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia, while Brookshire Grocery has started an online waiting list in Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas. Food City is ready to offer the vaccine, but currently only has it at pharmacies in Virginia. Price Chopper / Market 32 is offering the vaccine at some pharmacies in Massachusetts, New York and Pennsylvania – click here to see if you are eligible.
Health Mart – a chain of 5,000 independent pharmacies in the United States – is also expected to ship federal vaccines. Pennsylvania’s Beaver Health Mart paused its online registration, saying it would resume requests as soon as its stock was replenished. Missouri residents can try to register on the Parkland Health Mart Pharmacy website here.
Health Mart, CPESN USA and Good Neighbor
Wayne Drug, a Health Mart pharmacy in Oswego, New York, used social media to keep customers informed.
The Community Pharmacy Enhanced Service Network, or CPESN USA, is participating in the federal program and offering vaccines in locations in Florida and Iowa.
AmerisourceBergen said it was placing orders with CDC on behalf of its Good Neighbor Pharmacy and Elevate Provider Network – a cooperative of 4,500 independent pharmacies – in Kentucky, Kansas, Nebraska, Texas and Guam.
In San Joaquin County, California, Save Mart Company’s Lucky Pharmacy is offering consultations here.