The request to inoculate the country against a virus which killed over 500,000 Americans rises. CVS Health on Wednesday began booking appointments to provide COVID-19 vaccinations in a total of 17 states, with about 570,000 doses available for injection into the arms starting Thursday, according to the pharmacy chain.
The pharmacy giant said it is expanding pharmaceutical locations that offer vaccinations to eligible populations to include Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Louisiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania through a federal program run by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
CVS begins offering vaccinations earlier this month at pharmacies in 11 states: California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas and Virginia.
White House on February 17 said it doubled the number of doses delivered to US retail pharmacies, expanding deliveries from 1 million doses sent to 6,500 pharmacies the previous week. He said 2 million doses a week will be shipped to future outlets and will 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 vaccination effort,” Karen S. Lynch, president and CEO of CVS Health, said in a press release on Wednesday.
CVS, which operates nearly 10,000 pharmacies nationwide, said it has the capacity to manage between 20 and 25 million photos per month. Those who want to book an appointment can do so through CVS.com or through the company’s pharmaceutical application. Those without online access can call customer service at (800) 746-7287.
Walgreens and others are accelerating photos
The CVS announcement follows a similar one from Walgreens, which last week said it would begin distributing its weekly allocation of more than 480,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine starting February 25 or Thursday.
Walgreens 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 has advised eligible individuals to book appointments by visiting its website or through their state health department. The company runs over 9,000 pharmacies across the country.
Earlier this month, the federal government began sending COVID-19 vaccine supplies to 21 national pharmacy chains and to independent pharmacies to speed up distribution. Pharmacies and retailers are also working with states to help speed up the immunization effort, and the public is urged to line up by making an appointment online or by phone.
Where federal doses go varies by state. In Alabama, for example, pharmacies in Walmart stores will receive federal vaccine deliveries, while in California, CVS and Rite Aid will receive doses. Vaccine shipments go to the Hy-Vee and CPESN US locations in Iowa and to Albertsons, Costco and Health Mart pharmacies in Washington State. Search for your status here.
Kroger, Walmart and Rite Aid
Other major chains involved in the effort include Kroger, the nation’s largest food chain. He recently unveiled a programming tool that he said can handle 250,000 requests daily. Kroger Health now receives and administers vaccines at 1,300 of the 2,200 pharmacies and 220 clinics in 35 states. “If all pharmacy locations start receiving vaccine doses, Kroger Health could average an average of nearly 500,000 vaccinations a week,” a press release said.
Kroger pharmacies have a limited amount of vaccine and now offer it in 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 the availability of programming here.
More than 1,000 Walmart and Sam’s Club pharmacies in 22 states receive federal vaccine allocations. 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 offers vaccinations using state allocation in 11 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. (You can see if a Walmart pharmacy near you is administering the COVID-19 vaccine here and confirm your eligibility and schedule an appointment here.)
“Ninety percent of the country lives less than 10 miles from a Walmart. We are at the center of many rural and underserved communities and are committed to providing access to vaccines as groups become eligible,” said Dr. Cheryl Pegus, vice -executive at Walmart. President, Health & 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 spokesman said in a statement. email to CBS MoneyWatch. “These allocations will supplement existing and ongoing state and local allocations,” he added.
The Rite Aid chain, which operates 2,450 stores in 18 states, has limited information about registering here for a vaccination.
Publix, Costco and Mejer
Publix administers the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to eligible individuals at 593 Publix pharmacies in 41 Florida counties, using doses provided by the state and federal government. Publix pharmacies also administered the vaccine to people in Georgia, South Carolina and Virginia. The company’s online booking system can be found here.
Costco offers a limited number of COVID-19 vaccines, usually Modern, in some locations in New York City, Oregon, Puerto Rico and Washington, the depository club said in an update on its website.
Albertsons companies, which operate more than 1,700 pharmacies in its grocery stores in 34 states, also receive direct federal vaccine allocations. Consumers can check availability at the food and medicine 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 Lucky Pharmacy, owned by Albertsons in Salt Lake City, Utah, the COVID-19 vaccine is billed as “soon.”
Hy-Vee operates 275 stores in eight Midwestern states and offers federal vaccine doses at some of its pharmacies in Iowa and South Dakota. Appointments can be made here.
Meijer plans to administer up to 25,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine starting the week of February 8 at clinics in its stores in Michigan. State residents over the age of 65 can pre-register through the company’s website. The retailer operates 256 supermarkets and grocery stores in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Michigan.
Ahold Delhaize and Southwestern Grocers
HEB, which operates more than 400 stores in Texas and Mexico, offers the vaccine at some pharmacies in Texas. Check here for a new appointment.
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 schedules meetings in two of the five states in which it operates, New York and Massachusetts, and the Giant Food brand offers programming links to customers in Washington, DC, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia. Go to https://giantfood.com/pages/covid-info for details.
Southeastern Grocers began offering 8,100 free doses of Modern COVID-19 vaccine beginning Feb. 11 to eligible customers at locations in Florida’s Winn-Dixie, Fresco y Más and Harveys supermarkets.
Some of the multiple Topco Associates brands also receive federal vaccine deliveries. Acme Fresh Market offers vaccination appointments at its pharmacies in Ohio, although in the end the check has been completely booked. Check for updates here.
Big Y offers the vaccine at pharmacies in Massachusetts and Connecticut. Wegmans offers photos at some pharmacies in Massachusetts, New York and Pennsylvania.
Giant eagle, food town and price chopper
Giant Eagle, the Topco brand, is in line to deliver the vaccine to pharmacies in Indiana, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia, while Brookshire Grocery has started an online waiting list in Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas. Food City is ready to offer the vaccine, but currently only has it at pharmacies in Virginia. Price Chopper / Market 32 offers the vaccine at some pharmacies in Massachusetts, New York and Pennsylvania – click here to see if you are eligible.
Health Mart – a chain of 5,000 independent pharmacies in the US – is also following deliveries of federal vaccines. Beaver Health Mart of Pennsylvania has discontinued its online registration, saying it will resume receiving orders with its supply. Missouri residents can try to register on the Parkland Health Mart Pharmacy website here.
Health Mart, CPESN USA and Good Neighbor
Wayne Drug, a Health Mart pharmacy in Oswego, New York, went on social media to keep customers informed.
The Community Pharmacy Enhanced Service Network, or CPESN USA, participates in the federal program and provides vaccines in locations in Florida and Iowa.
AmerisourceBergen said it is placing orders with the CDC on behalf of its Good Neighbor Pharmacy and Elevate Provider Network – a cooperative of 4,500 independently owned pharmacies – in Kentucky, Kansas, Nebraska, Texas and Guam.
In San Joaquin County, California, Save Mart’s Lucky Pharmacy offers appointments here.