SAN DIEGO (KGTV) – As of Monday, CVS Pharmacy will begin delivering COVID-19 vaccines to staff and residents of California’s long-term care facilities.
On Dec. 18, the first shot was given by a CVS employee at a nursing home in Connecticut.
“We will be making 9,000 vaccines en route to deliver the vaccines across the country,” said Jonathan Roberts, vice president of CVS Health.
Ten days later, the CVS pharmacy begins its 12-week vaccination program in California’s competent nursing homes and assistance centers. The company expects to give the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to approximately 700,000 people at 15,000 facilities across the state.
“Small pharmacies are the foundation of the approach here, both because we are comfortable and everywhere,” said Dr. Troy Brennan, chief medical officer of CVS Health, said.
Earlier this month, the federal government awarded Walgreens and CVS contracts to export the vaccines due to the existing infrastructure and staff. CVS vaccines will visit each facility at least three times for enhancers and examinations within the 12-week rotation.
After this initial phase, CVS managers say they will move to the next level of priority recipients, which includes essential workers, older Americans, and those with chronic illnesses.
“We have the best chance of reaching the public, and the public likes the approach,” Dr Brennan said.
Both pharmacies already use their websites and programs, where people can make COVID test appointments. By April, they say, a similar page will be set up for the general public to make their vaccination appointments.
“We have a fairly flexible digital front and what we developed for the test, but that will apply here,” Dr Brennan said.
The companies hope that their wide range can help reduce the spread by summer.
“I would hope that by June or July we will be in a situation where the total transfer will be enough, and that we will be able to [return to] a kind of normal life. ‘