Costco Begins Providing COVID-19 Vaccines to Bay Area

Costco became the latest drugstore chain to announce on Saturday that it would begin offering coronavirus vaccines to Bay Area residents.

Starting this week, Costco will administer vaccines, typically Moderna, to select stores in California, including one in Marin County, according to a company statement on Saturday.

The Costco store located at 300 Vintage Way in Novato will be the first in the Bay Area to offer vaccination appointments. Eligible people – currently limited to essential healthcare workers – can book an appointment at the Novato store as early as Friday, according to Costco’s booking page.

Although Costco is a member-based business, it doesn’t appear that Californians need to be a member to register for a date. But if non-healthcare professionals try to make an appointment, it will be canceled, the company’s booking page warns.

The supermarket chain will also carry vaccines in parts of Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. California is currently one of only half a dozen states where Costco offers the vaccine.

“Costco is strongly committed to helping protect the health and safety of its members and employees, and to serving our communities,” the company statement said. “Our pharmacies will administer COVID-19 vaccines as soon as they become available, according to 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 Bay Area stores could start offering vaccines as well.

Costco joins a handful of drugstore chains, including CVS, Walgreens, Safeway, and Rite Aid, which now offer COVID-19 vaccines in California.

CVS offers vaccines to people over 65 and healthcare workers. Eligible individuals can book an appointment at CVS.com, by calling 800-746-7287 or through the CVS Pharmacy app.

Walgreens also offers the coronavirus vaccine in parts of the Bay Area, including Contra Costa County. People can book an appointment online at Walgreens.com.