COVID-19 Vaccinations Start Coming to a CVS near you

Increased Vaccine Supply, Initial Launch of the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program, and Expansion of FEMA Reimbursement to States

The COVID19 Task Force, in an unannounced action, released a new vaccine distribution statement Feb. 2nd:

A 5 percent supply increase will be distributed this week to states, Tribes and territories, and Americans will soon have easier access to vaccinations through local pharmacies.

As the U.S. surpasses 26 million COVID-19 infections, additional steps are being implemented as part of the comprehensive National Strategy to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. These steps include increasing the vaccine supply to states, Tribes, and territories and increasing funding to jurisdictions to help turn vaccines into vaccinations.

Starting next week, the first phase of the federal pharmacy program will launch and select pharmacies nationwide will begin offering vaccinations in their communities, working towards the goal of 100 million shots in the first 100 days of the new Biden administration.

Expanding Vaccine Supply: Weekly vaccine supplies will increase to 10.5 million doses nationwide beginning this week, and the government will commit to maintaining this as the minimum supply level for the next three weeks, as they continue to work with manufacturers to ramp up supply.

Launching First Phase of the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program for COVID-19 Vaccination: Starting on February 11, those eligible for the vaccine will have the opportunity to be vaccinated at select pharmacies across the country through the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program for COVID-19 Vaccination. This program is a public-private partnership with 21 national pharmacy partners and networks of independent pharmacies representing over 40,000 pharmacy locations nationwide (listed below). It is a key component of the administration’s national strategy to expand equitable access to vaccines for the American public.

As the first phase of this program launches, select retail pharmacies nationwide will receive limited vaccine supply to vaccinate priority groups at no cost. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) worked with states to select initial pharmacy partners based on a number of factors including their ability to reach some of the populations most at risk for severe illness from COVID-19. Americans should check their pharmacy’s website to find out if vaccine is available as supply will be limited in the initial phase. More information is available at cdc.gov/covid19.

CVS Health expands community access to COVID-19 vaccines in 11 states, including RI

Starting Thursday, February 11, CVS Health will begin to offer COVID-19 vaccinations to eligible populations at a limited number of CVS Pharmacy locations across 11 states. Rhode Island is one.

Stores in Westerly, East Greenwich and Woonsocket, as well as a fourth town will be announced. As more doses become available, more locations will be added.

The move comes after the Biden administration announced the federal government would distribute some doses directly through retail pharmacies. Many doses now are routed through the state, and then on to local hospitals or mass vaccinators. 

Appointments will be available for booking as early as Feb. 9, according to CVS. People will have to register in advance through CVS.com or the CVS Pharmacy app, and people without online access can call CVS customer service: (800) 746-7287. 

Supply for the initial rollout, which is sourced directly from the federal government through the pharmacy partnership program, will be approximately 250,000 total doses. As more supply becomes available the company will expand to additional states while increasing the number of stores offering vaccinations.

“Our presence in communities across the country makes us an ideal partner for administering vaccines in a safe, convenient, and familiar manner,” said Karen S. Lynch, President and Chief Executive Officer, CVS Health. “This is particularly true for underserved communities, which have been a focus for us throughout the pandemic.”

There are nearly 10,000 CVS Pharmacy locations nationwide, with almost half located in communities ranked high or very high in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Social Vulnerability Index. More than 90,000 health care professionals including pharmacists, licensed pharmacy technicians, and nurses will participate in the vaccination effort, giving CVS Pharmacy the capacity to administer 20 – 25 million shots per month.

State-specific details (eligibility will be confirmed and communicated by states in advance of the rollout):

State	Number of doses (approximate)	Number of active stores approximate)	Current eligibility guidelines
California	81,900	100	California Department of Public Health

Connecticut	6,800	12	Connecticut COVID-19 Response
Hawaii	4,400	7	Hawai‘i State Department of Health
Maryland	11,000	18	Maryland Department of Health covidLINK
Massachusetts	21,600	18	Massachusetts’ COVID-19 vaccination phases
New Jersey	19,900	27	New Jersey Department of Health
New York1	20,600	32	New York State Department of Health
Rhode Island	3,400	4	Rhode Island Department of Health
South Carolina	15,300	17	South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control
Texas	38,000	70	Texas Department of State Heath Services
Virginia	26,000	28	Virginia Department of Health

NOTE: RI HAS A NEW ACTIVE WEBSITE FOR VACCINE SIGNUP PAGE:

https://www.vaccinateri.org/

CVS Health is also working directly with Indiana (utilizing two CVS Pharmacy locations) and Ohio (19) to provide in-store vaccinations to eligible populations using state allocations. Other states may choose the same option, which is separate from the federal pharmacy partnership program but can run concurrently.

Participating Federal Pharmacy Partners (not all will be active in every state in initial phase)

Chain Pharmacies
• Walgreens (including Duane Reade)
• CVS Pharmacy, Inc. (including Long’s)
• Walmart, Inc. (including Sam’s Club)
• Rite Aid Corp.
• The Kroger Co. (including Kroger, Harris Teeter, Fred Meyer, Fry’s, Ralphs, King Soopers, Smiths, City Market, Dillons, Mariano’s, Pick-n-Save, Copps, Metro Market)
• Publix Super Markets, Inc.
• Costco Wholesale Corp.
• Albertsons Companies, Inc. (including Osco, Jewel-Osco, Albertsons, Albertsons Market, Safeway, Tom Thumb, Star Market, Shaw’s, Haggen, Acme, Randalls, Carrs, Market Street, United, Vons, Pavilions, Amigos, Lucky’s, Pak n Save, Sav-On)
• Hy-Vee, Inc.
• Meijer Inc.
• H-E-B, LP
• Retail Business Services, LLC (including Food Lion, Giant Food, The Giant Company, Hannaford Bros Co, Stop & Shop)
• Winn-Dixie Stores Inc. (including Winn-Dixie, Harveys, Fresco Y Mas)

Network Administrators
• Topco Associates, LLC (including Acme Fresh Markets, Associated Food Stores, Big-Y Pharmacy and Wellness Center, Brookshire’s Pharmacy, Super One Pharmacy, FRESH by Brookshire’s Pharmacy, Coborn’s Pharmacy, Cash Wise Pharmacy, MarketPlace Pharmacy, Giant Eagle, Hartig Drug Company, King Kullen, Food City Pharmacy, Ingles Pharmacy, Raley’s, Bel Air, Nob Hill Pharmacies, Save Mart Pharmacies, Lucky Pharmacies, SpartanNash, Price Chopper, Market 32, Tops Friendly Markets, ShopRite, Wegmans, Weis Markets, Inc.)
• CPESN USA, LLC
• GeriMed (long-term care and retail pharmacies)
• Good Neighbor Pharmacy and AmerisourceBergen Drug Corporation’s pharmacy services administrative organization (PSAO), Elevate Provider
• Health Mart Systems, Inc.
• Innovatix (long-term care pharmacies)
• LeaderNET and Medicine Shoppe, Cardinal Health’s PSAOs
• Managed Health Care Associates (retail and long-term care pharmacies)

The RI Dept. of Health has yet to have information on this change on their website – this is a developing story.