CVS Health now offering COVID-19 vaccines in 29 states and Puerto Rico

CVS Health has nearly doubled the number of states where select CVS Pharmacy locations are offering COVID-19 vaccines to eligible populations through the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program. The company is now administering vaccines in nearly 1,200 stores across 29 states and Puerto Rico.

States and jurisdictions that were activated within the past week are Colorado, Illinois, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nevada, New York City, Oklahoma, Philadelphia, Utah and Vermont. 

"We're increasing the number of active stores and expanding to additional states as fast as supply allows, with the capacity to administer 20-25 million shots per month," said Karen Lynch, CVS Health president and CEO. "We're also focused on priority populations, including vulnerable communities disproportionately impacted by the pandemic as well as teachers and school support staff."

On March 2, the Biden Administration announced that for the month of March, FRPP participants would prioritize vaccinating pre-K through 12 educators and staff and child care workers. From March 3 to March 10, this population accounted for more than 30% of COVID-19 vaccine appointments at CVS Pharmacy locations.

Appointments in the newly activated states and jurisdictions will start to become available for booking on Saturday, March 13. Vaccines in a retail setting are offered on an appointment-only basis via CVS.com or through the CVS Pharmacy app, and those without online access can contact customer service: 800-746-7287.

Since CVS Health began administering COVID-19 vaccine doses to residents and staff at over 40,000 long-term care facilities across the country in late December, there has been a dramatic drop in COVID-19 cases and deaths. In fact, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services data, between December 20 and February 21 there has been a 94% decrease in COVID-19 cases, and an 84% decrease in COVID-19 deaths, CVS Health said.

Per the company's publicly available data, CVS Pharmacy teams have completed second doses at all skilled nursing facilities, and third and final visits are 90% complete. Second doses at assisted living and other facilities are 91%complete, with more than half of third and final visits complete. CVS Health has administered nearly 4.5 million COVID-19 vaccine doses through the Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term Care Program.