[ad_1]
Starting Friday, COVID-19 vaccines will be available at select CVS pharmacies in California for those currently eligible in their county. The scheduling system will open on Thursday, CVS says.
The initial allocation to CVS is 250,000 doses, in partnership with the federal government. About 81,900 of those doses will go to CVS pharmacies in California, to be administered in about 100 stores, possibly including Target store pharmacies.
In Southern California, the sites will include, among others:
- Agoura Hills
- Carlsbad
- Chula Vista
- Huntington Beach
- Irvine
- Angels
- Newport Beach
- San Diego
Appointments are required. These can be done through CVS.com or through the CVS Pharmacy smartphone app. Those who do not have Internet access can call (800) 746-7287. CVS asks people not to contact individual pharmacies.
If this is your first dose, you will schedule appointments for your first and second doses at the same time. You will receive a vaccination record indicating which vaccine you received and when you should return. The pharmacy will also keep track of the dose you receive so that you receive the same second dose.
Appointments will likely fill up quickly, but new appointments will be added daily, CVS said.
Each pharmacy will only receive Pfizer or Moderna depending on availability. But once more pharmacies are able to offer the vaccine, patients will be able to see the type of vaccine offered by each pharmacy before making an appointment.
Upon arrival at your appointment, staff members will ask for an insurance card, valid Social Security number, driver’s license, or state ID number. The CVS website says the vaccine will cost you nothing, but CVS will bill your insurance or the federal government for reimbursement.
CVS says its goal is to offer vaccines to nearly all of its 9,900 pharmacies once there is sufficient supply.
Walgreens also plans to start vaccinations in stores Friday in Riverside, Contra Costa and Placer counties. Appointments can be made through the Walgreens planner at Walgreens.com/ScheduleVaccine. You will need to create a Walgreens pharmacy account and make a short selection. You will be able to schedule appointments for both doses at the same time.
There are also limited doses of the vaccine available at other pharmacies, including Vons, Albertsons, Costco and Ralphs (a subsidiary of Kroger).
Rite Aid says its pharmacies are ready to administer the vaccine but have yet to receive doses.
Walmart distributes vaccines in some states, but has no plans to do so in California.
Check each pharmacy’s website for the latest information on vaccine supply and how to schedule an appointment.
[ad_2]
Source link