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The attempt to inoculate the country against a virus that killed more than 500,000 Americans takes over. CVS Health began scheduling appointments on Wednesday to offer COVID-19 vaccinations in a total of 17 states, with around 570,000 doses available to be injected into guns as of Thursday, according to the drugstore chain.
The pharmacy giant said it was expanding pharmacies offering vaccines to eligible populations to include Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Louisiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania through a federal program run by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the United States.
CVS began offering vaccines earlier this month to pharmacies in 11 states: California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas and Virginia.
The White House on February 17 said it was doubling the amount of doses shipped to retail pharmacies across the United States, expanding shipments of 1 million doses sent to 6,500 pharmacies the previous week. He said 2 million doses per week would be shipped to outlets in the future and would eventually include 40,000 stores nationwide.
CVS “is making significant progress in reaching vulnerable communities, which will continue to be an essential part of our immunization effort,” Karen S. Lynch, president and CEO of CVS Health, said in a press release Wednesday.
CVS, which operates nearly 10,000 pharmacies nationwide, said it has the capacity to administer 20 to 25 million doses per month. Those who wish to make an appointment can do so through CVS.com or through the company’s pharmacy app. Those without online access can call customer service at (800) 746-7287.
Walgreens and others speed up shots
CVS’s announcement follows a similar announcement from Walgreens, which said last week that as of February 25 or Thursday, it would begin distributing its weekly allowance of more than 480,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Walgreens has 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 eligible people to book appointments by visiting their site or through their health department. The company operates more than 9,000 pharmacies across the country.
Earlier this month, the federal government began sending supplies of COVID-19 vaccines to 21 national drugstore chains and independent pharmacies in an effort to speed up distribution. Pharmacies and retailers are also working in partnership with states to help speed up the immunization effort, with the public being invited to line up by booking appointments online or by phone.
The destination of federal doses varies from state to state. In Alabama, for example, pharmacies in Walmart stores will receive federal shipments of the vaccine, while in California, CVS and Rite Aid are expected to receive doses. Vaccine shipments go to Hy-Vee and CPESN USA sites in Iowa, as well as Albertsons, Costco and Health Mart pharmacies in Washington State. Find your state here.
Kroger, Walmart and Rite Aid
Other big chains involved in the effort include Kroger, the country’s largest grocery chain. He recently unveiled a scheduling tool that he says can handle 250,000 requests per day. Kroger Health currently receives and administers vaccines at 1,300 of its 2,200 pharmacies and 220 clinics in 35 states. “If all pharmacies start receiving doses of the vaccine, Kroger Health could administer an average of nearly 500,000 shots per week,” he said in a press release.
Kroger pharmacies have a limited supply of the vaccine and now offer 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 appointment availability here.
More than 1,000 Walmart and Sam’s Club pharmacies in 22 states receive federal vaccine allowances. 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 vaccinations using the state allowance in 11 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. (You can see if a Walmart pharmacy near you administers the COVID-19 vaccine here and confirm eligibility and schedule an appointment here.)
“Ninety percent of the country lives within 10 miles of a Walmart. We are at the heart of many rural and underserved communities, and we are committed to providing access to vaccines as groups become eligible, ”Dr Cheryl Pegus, Walmart’s vice director, Health and Wellness, said in a press release.
Rite Aid receives 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 spokesperson said in an email. at 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 registering for a vaccination here.
Publix, Costco and Mejer
Publix administers the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to eligible individuals at 593 Publix pharmacies in 41 counties in Florida, using doses provided by the state and federal government. Publix pharmacies have also administered the vaccine to people in Georgia, South Carolina and Virginia. The company’s online reservation system can be found here.
Costco offers a limited number of COVID-19 vaccines, typically Moderna, in parts of New York, Oregon, Puerto Rico and Washington, the warehouse club said in an update on its website.
Albertsons Companies, which operates more than 1,700 drugstores in its grocery stores in 34 states, also receives direct federal vaccine allowances. Consumers can check availability at the food and pharmaceutical retailer’s many individual banners: ACME, Albertsons, Carrs, Haggen, Jewel-Osco, Pavilion, Randalls, Safeway, Shaw’s, Star Market, Tom Thumb, United Supermarkets and Vons.
At the Albertsons-owned Lucky Pharmacy in Salt Lake City, Utah, the COVID-19 vaccine is touted as “coming soon.”
Hy-Vee operates 275 stores in eight Midwestern states and offers federal doses of the vaccine at some of its in-store 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 in its Michigan stores. State residents 65 and over can pre-register on the company’s website. The retailer operates 256 supercenters and grocery stores in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Michigan.
Ahold Delhaize and Southwest Grocers
HEB, which operates more than 400 stores in Texas and Mexico, offers the vaccine at some drugstores in Texas. Check the availability of new appointments here.
The Ahold Delhaize companies also offer the vaccine. This includes Stop & Shop, which operates 250 pharmacies in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, and New Jersey. Hannaford now makes appointments in two of the five states in which it operates, New York and Massachusetts, and its Giant Food brand offers scheduling links to clients in Washington, DC, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia. Go to https://giantfood.com/pages/covid-info for more details.
Southeastern Grocers began donating 8,100 free Moderna COVID-19 vaccine doses starting February 11 to eligible customers at select Winn-Dixie, Fresco y Más and Harveys supermarkets across Florida.
Some of Topco Associates’ multiple brands also receive federal vaccine shipments. Acme Fresh Market offers vaccination appointments at its pharmacies in Ohio, although at last check reservations were full. Check for updates here.
Big Y offers the vaccine at pharmacies in Massachusetts and Connecticut. Wegmans offers injections at select pharmacies in Massachusetts, New York, and Pennsylvania.
Giant Eagle, Food City and Price Chopper
Topco brand Giant Eagle is in line to offer the vaccine to pharmacies in Indiana, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia, while Brookshire Grocery has launched an online waitlist in Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas. Food City is prepared to offer the vaccine, but currently only has it in pharmacies in Virginia. Price Chopper / Market 32 offers the vaccine at select pharmacies in Massachusetts, New York and Pennsylvania – click here to see if you are eligible.
Health Mart – a chain of 5,000 independent pharmacies across the United States – is also scheduled to ship federal vaccines. Pennsylvania’s Beaver Health Mart has suspended its online registration, saying it will resume requests once its supply is replenished. Missouri residents can try registering on the Parkland Health Mart Pharmacy website here.
Health Mart, CPESN USA and Good Neighbor
Wayne Drug, a Health Mart drugstore in Oswego, New York, has taken to social media to keep customers informed.
The Community Pharmacy Enhanced Service Network, or CPESN USA, participates in the federal program and offers vaccines at sites in Florida and Iowa.
AmerisourceBergen said it places orders with the 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, the Lucky Pharmacy of the Save Mart Company offers appointments here.
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