The bid to vaccinate the land against a virus that killed more than 500,000 Americans is on the rise. CVS Health began booking appointments Wednesday to offer COVID-19 vaccinations in a total of 17 states, with about 570,000 doses available to be injected into the arms as of Thursday, according to the pharmacy chain.
The drugstore giant said it is expanding pharmacy locations offering vaccinations to eligible populations including 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 at pharmacies in 11 states earlier this month: California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas and Virginia.
The White House February 17th said it doubles the number of doses delivered to pharmacies in the US, expanding shipments from the 1 million doses shipped to 6,500 pharmacies the week before. It said 2 million doses per week would be shipped to the outlets in the future and will eventually include 40,000 stores nationwide.
CVS “is making significant progress in reaching vulnerable communities, which will remain an essential part of our vaccination efforts,” Karen S. Lynch, president and chief executive of CVS Health, said in a press release Wednesday.
CVS, which operates nearly 10,000 pharmacies across the country, said it has the capacity to administer 20 million to 25 million injections per month. Those wishing 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
The announcement by CVS follows a similar one from Walgreens, who said last week that it would start distributing its weekly allocation of more than 480,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses starting Feb. 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, U.S. Virgin Islands, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
Walgreens advised eligible individuals to make appointments by visiting the site or through their state health department. The company has more than 9,000 pharmacies across the country.
The federal government began shipping supplies of COVID-19 vaccines to 21 national drugstore chains and to independent pharmacies earlier this month to speed up distribution. Pharmacies and retailers are also working with states to accelerate immunization efforts, urging the public to queue by making an appointment online or over the phone.
Where the federal doses go varies by state. For example, in Alabama, pharmacies in Walmart stores will receive federal shipments of the vaccine, while in California, CFS and Rite Aid are expected to receive doses. Shipments of the vaccine go to Hy-Vee and CPESN USA locations in Iowa, and to Albertsons, Costco and Health Mart pharmacies in Washington State. Look up your state here.
Kroger, Walmart and Rite Aid
Other major chains involved in the effort include Kroger, the country’s largest supermarket chain. It recently unveiled a scheduling tool that it said can handle 250,000 requests a day. Kroger Health now receives and administers vaccines at 1,300 of its 2,200 pharmacies and 220 clinics in 35 states. “If all pharmacy sites begin to receive doses of the vaccine, Kroger Health could administer nearly 500,000 vaccinations a week on average,” said 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 an update from the company. Consumers can check the availability of appointments here.
More than 1,000 Walmart and Sam’s Club pharmacies in 22 states receive federal vaccine assignments. That 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 also provides vaccinations using state assignments in 11 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. (You can find out 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 within 10 miles of a Walmart. We are at the heart of many rural and disadvantaged communities and we are committed to providing access to vaccines as soon as groups become eligible,” said Dr. Cheryl Pegus, executive vice president of 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 the largest city, Philadelphia and New York City, a spokesperson said in an email to CBS MoneyWatch . “These allocations will be in addition to existing and ongoing national and local allocations,” he added.
The Rite Aid chain, which operates 2,450 stores in 18 states, has limited information here on how to register 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 have also given 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 some locations in New York City, Oregon, Puerto Rico and Washington, the warehouse club said in an update on its website.
Albertsons Companies, which operates more than 1,700 pharmacies in its grocery stores in 34 states, also receives direct federal allocations of vaccines. Consumers can check availability at the numerous individual food and drugstore signboards: ACME, Albertsons, Carrs, Haggen, Jewel-Osco, Pavilion, Randalls, Safeway, Shaw’s, Star Market, Tom Thumb, United Supermarkets and Vons.
Lucky Pharmacy, owned by Albertsons in Salt Lake City, Utah, bills the COVID-19 vaccine as “available soon.”
Hy-Vee has 275 stores in eight Midwestern states and offers federal doses of the vaccine at some of its pharmacies in Iowa and South Dakota. Appointments can be made here.
Meijer plans to administer up to 25,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses from the week of February 8 at clinics across its stores across Michigan. State residents who are 65 and older can pre-register through the company’s website. The retailer operates 256 supercenters 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. Look here for the availability of new appointments.
Ahold Delhaize companies also offer the vaccine. That includes Stop & Shop, which operates 250 pharmacies in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York and New Jersey. Hannaford is now scheduling appointments in two of the five states in which it operates, New York and Massachusetts, and the Giant Food brand provides planning links to customers in Washington, DC, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia. Visit https://giantfood.com/pages/covid-info for details.
Southeastern Grocers began giving 8,100 free Moderna COVID-19 vaccine doses to eligible customers at a number of Winn-Dixie, Fresco y Más and Harveys Supermarket locations across Florida starting February 11.
Some of Topco Associates’ many brands also receive federal shipments of vaccines. Acme Fresh Market offers vaccination appointments at its Ohio pharmacies, even though the check was finally booked. Check here for updates.
Big Y offers the vaccine at pharmacies in Massachusetts and Connecticut. Wegmans offers shots at some 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 at 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 qualify.
Health Mart – a chain of 5,000 independent pharmacies in the US – is also due to federal vaccine shipments. The Beaver Health Mart in Pennsylvania has paused online registration and said it would take requests again once the supply is replenished. Missouri residents can register at the Parkland Health Mart Pharmacy site here.
Health Mart, CPESN USA and Good Neighbor
Wayne Drug, a Health Mart pharmacy in Oswego, New York, used social media to keep customers informed.
Community Pharmacy Enhanced Service Network, or CPESN USA, participates in the federal program and offers vaccines at locations in Florida and Iowa.
AmerisourceBergen said it placed 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 Save Mart Company’s Lucky Pharmacy offers appointments here.