As of April 12, more than 6.8 million doses of Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) COVID-19 have been administered in the U.S. CDC and FDA are reviewing data involving six reported U.S. cases of a rare and severe type of blood clot in individuals after receiving the J&J vaccine. In these cases, a type of blood clot called cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) was seen in combination with low levels of blood platelets (thrombocytopenia). All six cases occurred among women between the ages of 18 and 48, and symptoms occurred 6 to 13 days after vaccination.

According to the CDC, these adverse events “appear to be extremely rare.” If you have received the Janssen vaccine and develop severe headache, abdominal pain, leg pain, or shortness of breath within three weeks after vaccination you should contact your health care provider or seek medical care. Report adverse events following receipt of any COVID-19 vaccine to VAERS.

Aetna members currently scheduled to receive the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine are encouraged to contact their pharmacy or health care provider and request to reschedule for a Moderna or Pfizer vaccine.

CVS pharmacies will offer assistance to all impacted patients to re-book an appointment at a CVS store using Moderna or Pfizer. Patients can also check for available CVS appointments at any time in their area.

Due to the CDC and FDA recommending a pause in the use of the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine, availability of the vaccine is anticipated to be limited at this time. Members should monitor the CDC, FDA and their individual state websites for updated information related to the availability of the vaccine and consult with their physician as appropriate.

According to the CDC, these adverse events appear to be extremely rare. If you have received the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine within the last three weeks, monitor yourself for symptoms. The CDC recommends that if you develop severe headache, abdominal pain, leg pain, or shortness of breath, contact your health care provider or seek medical care.

The Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine is one of three COVID-19 vaccines to receive FDA emergency use authorization and represents less than 5% of the COVID-19 vaccines administered in the US to date. According to the White House COVID-19 Response team, pausing the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine will not have a significant impact on the US vaccination plan.

No. Aetna members in Commercial and Medicaid plans will not have to pay any out-of-pocket costs for a COVID-19 vaccine. For Medicare beneficiaries, CMS will cover the full cost of the vaccine, including those in a Medicare Advantage plan.

No. Aetna members in Commercial and Medicaid plans will not have to pay any out-of-pocket costs for a COVID-19 vaccine, regardless of whether they go to an in-or out-of-network pharmacy or provider.

CMS has indicated it will pay for the cost of the vaccine for all Medicare beneficiaries. This includes, those in a Medicare Advantage plan, regardless of whether they go to an in-network or out-of-network pharmacy or provider. Please be sure to bring and show your red/white/blue Medicare ID card or your Medicare Number – not your Aetna member ID card – when you get vaccinated. This will help your health care provider or pharmacy to bill Medicare.

Members should not be charged for COVID-19 testing ordered by a provider acting within their authorized scope of care or administration of a COVID-19 vaccine. Providers can seek reimbursement for uninsured patients through the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) for COVID-19 testing, treatment and vaccine administration. This information is available on the HRSA website.

COVID-19 vaccinations will be available at pharmacies as well as doctors’ offices at other clinical sites of care. The list of pharmacies participating with the federal government in the administration of the vaccine can be found here. Additionally, VaccineFinder is a free, online service operated by Boston Children’s Hospital, in partnership with CDC, that has information on COVID-19 vaccine availability at certain providers and pharmacies in some states.

Our State Resource lookup tool provides links to each state’s health department and vaccine resource page, so you can get the latest information about when and where vaccines will be available in your area.

CVS Health is currently working directly with several states to support their programs to immunize eligible populations. In these locations, criteria for vaccination is determined by the state and vaccines are supplied by the state. Please visit CVS.com for the latest updates on availability at CVS locations in your area.

Aetna will follow the guidance provided by the CDC and FDA regarding the age of eligibility to receive the vaccine.

The FDA has authorized three COVID-19 vaccines which have been shown to be safe and effective as determined by data from the manufacturers and findings from large clinical trials. These data demonstrate that the known and potential benefits of this vaccine outweigh the known and potential harms of becoming infected with COVID 19. CVS Health is only administering vaccines that have been authorized for use by the FDA and our COVID-19 vaccination services are being conducted in compliance with CDC guidance for safe delivery of vaccines.

Both the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines have two doses, with the second dose coming a few weeks after the first. Pfizer-BioNTech’s second dose comes three weeks after the first, and Moderna’s comes four weeks later. The second dose gives people a strong, long-lasting immunity and it is recommended that individuals get both doses of the same vaccine.

Providers will need to ensure that individuals who got the first shot receive a second shot of the right vaccine at the right time.

Yes, the process will be very similar to receiving a flu vaccine, including scheduling an appointment with your vaccine provider. At CVS, you can schedule online at CVS.com or through the CVS app. CVS Pharmacy has ample experience in safely administering vaccines, including millions of flu shots every year.

Current science suggests that the COVID-19 vaccine will be like the flu vaccine, requiring annual dosing, but research will be required to fully answer this question.

Federal and state authorities have developed guidelines to prioritize vulnerable populations in the first phase of the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has recommended the following groups be prioritized before the general public:

• Phase 1a: health care workers and residents and staff of long-term care facilities
• Phase 1b: frontline essential workers and adults 75 years of age and older
• Phase 1c: adults 65-74 years of age, individuals age 16-64 with high-risk medical conditions, and other essential workers

In early January, the federal Administration expanded Phase 1b to include adults 65 years of age and older.

Each state can choose to adopt these recommendations or implement their own prioritization guidelines. While we do not know the exact timing, vaccines may be available to the general public as soon as April or May.

Twenty-one pharmacy chains, including CVS, are participating in the Federal Pharmacy Program. Aetna members are encouraged to visit the CDC website to find out which pharmacies are offering the vaccine in their state. Members should also visit the pharmacy’s website to find out if they are providing COVID-19 vaccines in their area.

As part of this program, CVS Health is now administering vaccines at 2,300 stores in 49 states, Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico. These states include Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

Eligible customers are now able to schedule an appointment on CVS.com. Please visit CVS.com frequently to check for available appointments. Customers will be able to schedule their vaccinations—both the initial shot and the second dose (if required)—at CVS.com or through the CVS app. Anyone requiring assistance with the scheduling tool or without access to a computer or mobile device is encouraged to contact CVS Customer Service.

Yes, if you meet eligibility guidelines for your state. The criteria for eligibility in each state is determined by the states and in some cases even down to a county by county level. We encourage you to check your state’s website to see where vaccines are being offered in your area, including local retail pharmacies. You can also check your pharmacy’s website to see if they are participating.

Participating pharmacies in the Federal Pharmacy Program are currently vaccinating eligible populations, based on each state’s eligibility guidelines. It’s important to note that in most (if not all) states, the number of individuals who are eligible to receive the vaccine under the state’s rules far outnumber the state’s available doses. As a result, available appointments will be extremely limited. As pharmacies receive additional shipments of vaccines, more appointments will open up, so we encourage you to continue to check for an open appointment in your area.

Our State Resource lookup tool provides links to each state’s health department and vaccine resource page, so individuals can get the latest information about when and where vaccines will be available in your area.

After receiving your first dose, you should receive a Vaccine Record Card that documents the type of vaccine you were given, the date you received it, and where you received it. You are encouraged to bring your Vaccine Record Card with you when returning for your second dose.