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Drugstore chain CVS Health no longer offers Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine in many of its outlets, the company told The Hill.
In an email, CVS spokesperson Mike DeAngelis said retail outlets continued to offer the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine.
DeAngelis said the change was implemented “several weeks ago and helps us manage our vaccine supply throughout the chain, both in our pharmacies and clinics.”
He added that the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is still offered at nearly 1,000 of its MinuteClinic sites in 25 states and Washington, DC.
The company has more than 9,900 points of sale and approximately 1,100 walk-in medical clinics.
CNBC first reported the move.
The Johnson & Johnson vaccine was touted as a potential game changer when it was initially licensed. This is a single dose injection that can be stored at normal refrigerator temperatures, making it particularly useful for hard-to-reach populations.
But the vaccine has been beset by production issues, as well as concerns about its effectiveness against the delta variant which is currently booming in the United States.
Federal health officials also suspended administration of the vaccine for more than a week in April, amid concerns of rare but serious blood clots. Only about 13.3 million people have been vaccinated with the J&J vaccine, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention did not recommend the booster shots, but some Americans who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine decided to get a dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine.
In an earnings call on Wednesday, CVS executives said the pace of vaccinations had slowed from expectations.
The company administered nearly 17 million COVID-19 vaccines nationwide in the second quarter and plans to deliver between 32 million and 36 million total doses this year. The first estimates reached 44 million doses.
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