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- Getting the COVID-19 vaccine at CVS was extremely effective and easy.
- From signing up to recording and taking the picture itself, the process was organized and concise.
- The experience has helped me understand why CVS has already vaccinated over 10 million Americans.
- Visit Insider’s Business section for more stories.
Thursday morning, CVS announced an important milestone in the race to vaccinate Americans against the coronavirus: 10 million shots delivered, and the capacity to administer up to 25 million shots per month.
Later that morning I walked into a CVS on Staten Island and became one of the next 10 million.
The vaccination process at CVS was so friendly, efficient and organized that it helped me understand why the pharmacy chain is able to vaccinate so many people so quickly.
Earlier this week, when appointment eligibility for a vaccine was opened to anyone in New York City aged 30 and over, I went to the CVS scheduler, plugged in my information and I found a surprising number of appointments open for Staten Island sites.
CVS
I made an appointment Thursday morning and received a confirmation email shortly after.
As someone who has been trying, and failing, to buy a PlayStation 5 for months, it was a surprisingly trouble-free experience using the CVS planning tool. I was able to simply enter information, select a time and confirm my selection.
On Thursday morning, before embarking on the long drive from downtown Brooklyn to downtown Staten Island, I received a text message from CVS with a link to digitally check in when I arrived at the store:
CVS
An hour later, I parked my car and logged in digitally. After telling CVS I was at the store, I turned off my car and walked inside.
Before I could even start to be confused as to where I should go, I spotted a check-in counter.
Immediately to the right of the entrance gates, CVS employees set up a temporary check-in desk for vaccinations:
Don’t be fooled by the empty desk – the employee who worked at the desk didn’t want to be in the photo!
Ben Gilbert / Insider
There was no line and the recordings were done simply: with a highlighter on paper.
After giving my name, I was instructed to walk down the adjacent aisle where a handful of people were already lined up in social distanced squares marked on the ground.
While we waited, another CVS employee with a clipboard walked along the line, took some ID, and filled out each person’s coveted CDC vaccination card with information about their first injection – it’s the card everyone takes selfies with, although you probably shouldn’t. .
By the time I received my card, I was taking the next step in the process: registering a second time with an employee behind a computer who confirmed my address.
At this point I could see the full operation. Essentially, the employees had set up a flexible assembly line to vaccinate people, and it was changing rapidly.
The vaccination end point, behind the blue plastic curtain, with recently vaccinated patients waiting to the left.
Ben Gilbert / Insider
From where I was, the next step was to get the vaccine and then wait the 15 minutes it took in case I had a reaction.
Employees had cleverly used cash dividers to transform their pharmacy lobby into a socially distant waiting room. The “Endcap” products were moved for seated patients who could sit directly next to each other thanks to the dividers.
Ben Gilbert / Insider
The shooting itself was quick and relatively painless, as expected.
The man who gave me the vaccine asked me if I had any questions, and I blurted out a silly question I already knew the answer to (“When will I be fully vaccinated?”), And he kindly responded to something he has certainly answered a thousand times already (“You will receive the full benefits of the vaccination two weeks after your second injection.”).
The same employee who gave me my CDC vaccination card led me to the living room area and asked me how I was doing, so I enthusiastically said that I “felt good”. The truth, of course, is that I felt incredibly happy and hopeful for the first time in what seemed like an eternity. It’s been over a year, folks! There is no going back!
She handed me a 15 minute timer and I sat down.
You can tell I haven’t been out much in a year because my hat is in disarray.
Ben Gilbert / Insider
About halfway through my 15 minute wait, an employee came over to ask me how I was feeling once again, and I marveled at how fast and efficient their process was. She recounted how much she enjoyed helping people get vaccinated and said it made the day faster.
My meeting was scheduled for 10:45 a.m., and I was back in my car out of the parking lot at 11:21 a.m. I may or may not have bought some Easter candy from CVS before I left, which definitely added a minute or two.
Overall the process took a little over half an hour from start to finish, and everyone was thrilled along the way. From what I’ve seen, it makes perfect sense that CVS does so many vaccinations so quickly – they do it very well.
Do you have any advice? Contact Insider Senior Correspondent Ben Gilbert by email ([email protected]), or Twitter DM (@realbengilbert). We may keep the sources anonymous. Use an unprofessional device to contact. PR arguments only by email, thank you.
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