CVS Health announced on Thursday that it will begin administering the coronavirus vaccine in 119 additional pharmacies in California, including in five Bay Area counties, starting on Sunday.
The additional points of sale add to the 167 stores in the state that already administer the vaccine, bringing the total to 286, according to CVS Health. Schedules will start to be made available on Saturday, depending on when each store will receive the vaccine.
In the Bay Area, CVS vaccines against coronavirus will be available in Alameda, Napa, San Mateo, Santa Clara and Sonoma counties. CVS Health said it will expand to more California communities as more supplies become available.
CVS said it will not provide a list of Bay Area stores to prevent locations from being overwhelmed by people looking for a vaccine without an appointment, a spokesman said. Customers will be able to search for specific store locations on CVS.com as stores receive vaccine shipments and release appointment times.
Target recently announced a partnership with the pharmaceutical company to offer coronavirus vaccines at 600 CVS locations within Target stores in 17 states, including California. The tasters in some stores will be converted to serve as reception sites for vaccine appointments.
California currently prioritizes health professionals, residents and long-term care workers, people aged 65 and over, educators and caregivers of children, agricultural and food workers, and first responders.
In early March, President Biden’s administration announced that all members of the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program would prioritize vaccination for elementary and high school educators and child caregivers. According to CVS Health, these groups have been responsible for more than 30% of all vaccination appointments since March 3.
Scheduling to receive the vaccine can be done online or through the Pharmacy CVS app. Customers can also call 800-746-7287.
Vanessa Arredondo is a writer for the San Francisco Chronicle. Email: [email protected] Twitter: @v_anana