CVS/pharmacy, MinuteClinic expands H1N1 services

WOONSOCKET, R.I. CVS/pharmacy and its MinuteClinic locations are now offering H1N1 vaccine in 20 states and Washington, D.C., the company announced on Wednesday.

Currently, the vaccine is being offered at select CVS/pharmacy locations in Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Missouri, North Carolina, Texas and the District of Columbia and at MinuteClinic locations in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas. CVS/pharmacy and MinuteClinic are working with other states and expect the availability of H1N1 vaccine will expand to other areas as supply becomes available.

While in some locations priority restrictions for receiving H1N1 vaccines continue, many states have lifted restrictions allowing all patients to be eligible to receive the shot while supplies last.

In addition, season flu vaccine has been restocked and is available at MinuteClinic locations nationwide.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 200,000 hospitalizations and 36,000 deaths result each year from seasonal flu alone.

In addition, in 2009, 47 million Americans -- or about 1-in-6 -- already have had H1N1 flu. While H1N1 flu is currently active nationwide, seasonal flu typically does not reach its peak in the United States until January or February and can occur as late as May.