The attempt to immunize more Americans against the coronavirus now includes large retail pharmacies.
National pharmacy chains CVS Health and Walgreens are among the more than 20 major retailers receiving COVID-19 vaccines from the federal government this week. But getting a chance is not as easy as walking through the pharmacy’s door. Consumers are indeed discouraged from flocking to the stores, but rather queue up by making an appointment online or by phone.
The federal program, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, will be implemented in phases, based on available vaccine supplies, with deliveries arriving Thursday.
“The federal government is providing 1 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine for the launch of the program,” a CDC spokesman said in an email to CBS MoneyWatch. “We are unable to confirm how many doses will be given to pharmacy partners weekly over the coming weeks, but it is expected that the allocations will increase weekly as the vaccine supply increases.”
According to the agency, the federal government is working with 21 national pharmacy chains and independent networks to increase access to COVID-19 vaccines across the US. The participating pharmacies vary by state, and the CDC is offering state-by-state accounting from which retailers will receive vaccine doses this week.
In Alabama, for example, Walmart pharmacies will receive federal shipments of the vaccine, while CVS and Rite Aid are expected to receive doses in California. Shipments of the vaccine go to Hy-Vee and CPESN USA in Iowa, and to Albertsons, Costco and Health Mart pharmacies in Washington state. Look at your condition here.
Walgreens and CVS Health
Walgreens plans to provide a limited number of COVID-19 vaccinations in 15 states and jurisdictions as part of the federal program beginning Friday, with health workers, 65 and older, and people with pre-existing conditions among the potential candidates, depending on the guidelines of the state. Consumers can use Walgreens’ appointment planner, although the system was apparently temporarily interrupted on Tuesday.
The CDC sends a limited number of doses to Walgreens in Chicago and other parts of Illinois, Connecticut, Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York and New York, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, Vermont, Wisconsin. and West Virginia. The company also administers the vaccine with local grants in parts of Arkansas, California, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Nevada, Ohio, South Carolina and Texas.
The initial initiative to launch Thursday put CVS ahead of the start of its vaccination effort until Friday at a limited number of locations in 11 states, with the company’s scheduling system set to open on Thursday on CVS.com or the CVS Pharmacy app. Those who do not have online access can call (800) 746-4287.
“Because active stores will change frequently based on vaccine supply, CVS Health will not provide a complete list of participating locations,” an update said Monday.
CVS’s initial deployment will include approximately 250,000 doses eligible for people in California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas and Virginia. Separately, CVS uses state allocations of the vaccine to offer in-store vaccinations for eligible populations in Indiana and Ohio.
“As more supply becomes available, the company will expand to other countries and increase the number of stores offering vaccinations,” said the chain, which operates nearly 10,000 pharmacies nationwide.
Walmart, Sam’s Club and Rite Aid
More than 1,000 Walmart and Sam’s Club pharmacies in 22 states are receiving federal vaccines this week, with the shots starting from Friday. These include 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 gives vaccinations through state allocation in 11 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. (You can see if a Walmart pharmacy in your area administers the COVID-19 vaccine here, and confirm that you are eligible and plan an appointment for this.)
“Ninety percent of the country lives within ten miles of a Walmart. We are the heart of many rural and underserved communities, and we are committed to providing access to vaccines as groups qualify,” said Dr. Cheryl Pegus, executive director of Walmart. President, Health and Wellness, said in a news release on Tuesday.
Rite Aid receives federal doses at some of the pharmacies in five states and two municipal jurisdictions: California, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania and the largest city, Philadelphia, and New York, a spokesman said in an email to CBS MoneyWatch said. . “These grants will complement the existing and ongoing grants from the state and the country,” he added.
The Rite Aid chain, which operates 2,450 stores in 18 states, has limited registration information here for a vaccination.
Publix, Costco and Kroger
Publix said Tuesday that it will open appointments on Wednesday for the administration of the Modern 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 gave 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, mostly Moderna, in some locations in New York, Oregon, Puerto Rico and Washington, the warehouse club said in an update to its website on Friday.
Kroger Pharmacies has a limited amount of vaccine and now offers 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 late Monday. Consumers can check the availability of the appointment here.
Kroger, the country’s largest grocery store chain, said in December its health unit would offer the vaccine at its 2,200 pharmacies and 220 clinics in 35 countries.
Albertsons, Hy-Vee and Meijer
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 the availability at the food and drug dealer numerous individual banners: ACME, Albertsons, Carrs, Haggen, Jewel-Osco, Pavilion, Randalls, Safeway, Shaw’s, Star Market, Tom Thumb, United Supermarkets and Vons.
He-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 doses of COVID-19 vaccine at clinics in his Michigan stores from the week of Feb. 8. Residents of the state who are 65 years and older can pre-register via the company’s website. The retailer operates 256 supermarkets and grocery stores in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Michigan.
HEB, Ahold Delhaize and Southeast Grocers
HEB, which operates more than 400 stores in Texas and Mexico, offers the vaccine at some pharmacies in Texas. Check here for the availability of new appointments.
Ahold Delhaize Enterprises also offers the vaccine. These include Stop & Shop, which operates 250 pharmacies in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York and New Jersey. Hannaford is now planning appointments in two of the five states in which it operates, New York and Massachusetts, and its Giant Food brand offers scheduling links to customers in Washington, DC, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia. Go to https://giantfood.com/pages/covid-info for more information.
As of February 11, Southeastern Grocers is offering 8,100 free Modern COVID-19 vaccine eligible customers in some supermarkets in Winn-Dixie, Fresco y Más and Harveys in Florida.