COVID-19 vaccinations will be available at pharmacies as well as doctors’ offices at other clinical sites of care. The initial list of pharmacies participating with the federal government in the administration of the vaccine can be found here.

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 is currently working with several states to help vaccinate their priority populations, including health care workers, frontline essential workers, and seniors, in a small number of CVS Pharmacy locations. Please visit CVS.com for the latest updates on availability at CVS locations in your area. Timing and eligibility will vary from state to state, based on state guidelines.

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

CVS Health is currently playing a prominent role in administering COVID-19 vaccinations to priority high-risk populations and will participate in helping to vaccinate members of the general public once the vaccines are made available for that population.

CVS Health has been selected by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as one of two providers to administer COVID-19 vaccinations to residents and staff of long-term care facilities and CVS Health teams are now administering COVID-19 vaccines at facilities in 49 states and Washington, DC.

As part of the vaccine rollout, CVS Health is also working with several states to support their programs to immunize other priority populations in a small number of locations.

Once we enter the general population phase of vaccine administration in the coming months, CVS is prepared to play a prominent role in administering COVID-19 vaccines to the general public as one of the COVID-19 Vaccination Program Providers identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). At that time the vaccine will be available at our nearly 10,000 pharmacy locations in communities across the country.  

The FDA has authorized two 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. While the two leading vaccines include a second dose, some future vaccine candidates may only require one dose. Johnson & Johnson, for example, is expecting data in January that will show whether its experimental vaccine works after a single dose. In case it doesn’t, the company has also started a separate trial using two doses.

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.

While the first phase of COVID-19 vaccine distribution includes long-term care facilities, each state determines who to prioritize for the vaccine administration, based on the guidelines provided by the federal government. Additionally, the delivery of the vaccine is managed by contractors, including CVS Health, that have entered into agreements with the CDC to participate in the Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term Care Program.

For more information on your state’s specific vaccine strategy, visit your state’s Department of Health website.