CVS Pharmacy issued a news release stating seven CVS pharmacies across Louisiana will have COVID-19 vaccine doses starting Thursday.
“It is absolutely critical that people in Louisiana have access to the COVID-19 vaccine in their communities in a familiar setting like a pharmacy,” said Gov. John Bel Edwards. “I am thrilled CVS is joining as a partner for the federal pharmacy program in Louisiana, as it will increase our ability to see even more Louisianans go sleeves-up as we work to end the pandemic.”
Appointments will start to become available for booking Wednesday, to individuals meeting state criteria, as stores receive shipments of vaccine doses.
Persons must register in advance at CVS.com or through the CVS Pharmacy app, and people without online access can contact CVS customer service: 800-746-7287.
Walk-in vaccinations without an appointment will not be provided.
“One of our greatest strengths as a company is our presence in communities across the country, which makes us an ideal partner for administering vaccines in a safe, convenient and familiar manner,” CVS Health President and CEO Karen S. Lynch said in a statement.
“We continue to be grateful for the commitment of our front-line colleagues whose dedication has allowed us to deliver care and peace of mind throughout the pandemic.”
The Federal Retail Pharmacy Program, will be provide the supply of approximately 9,300 total weekly doses. Participating CVS Pharmacy locations are in the following Louisiana parishes: Ascension, Caddo, East Baton Rouge, Jefferson, Lafayette, Orleans and Tangipahoa.
The company will expand vaccine access through an increasing number of store locations in more Louisiana parishes as more supply becomes available.
CVS said addresses of the pharmacies with vaccines will not be released. Anyone interested in getting a vaccine is to use the CVS Pharmacy app and book an appointment online.
“The best way to get people to take advantage of this resource is to encourage them to schedule an appointment online at CVS.com, through the CVS Pharmacy app, or by calling our hotline: (800) 746-7287. When eligible patients schedule an appointment through the website, via the app, or by phone, the system/operator will provide the exact store location in the parish-based on the patient’s ZIP code,” CVS said in a statement.
The seven locations across Louisiana are among more than 640 locations across 17 states where the company is administering the vaccine, including Alabama, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia.
Vaccines will eventually be available at CVS Pharmacy locations throughout the country subject to product availability, with the capacity to administer 20–25 million shots per month.
In addition to making COVID-19 vaccines available in local pharmacy locations, CVS Health continues to make progress in its effort to vaccinate residents and staff at more than 540 long-term care facilities across Louisiana through the Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term Care Program.