COVID-19
resource center.
The COVID-19 pandemic is a rapidly evolving situation. Check back regularly for vaccine and other information.
The COVID-19 pandemic is a rapidly evolving situation. Check back regularly for vaccine and other information.
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CVS Health is 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.
At this time, most vaccine eligibility and distribution is happening through the states and is under their control. Some states are also making vaccines available to eligible populations in pharmacies. CVS Pharmacy is doing this in certain states on a limited basis.
Look for updates on vaccine eligibility and scheduling through your state department of health, or by using the resources provided here.
Visit CVS.com to check your state’s guidelines to see if you are eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine.
View a list of pharmacies participating in the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program on the CDC website.
COVID-19 vaccine is available in select stores based on vaccine supply from state and federal programs.
Get the facts about the COVID-19 vaccine from our Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Sree Chaguturu.
COVID-19 Vaccines: Your questions, answered. CVS Health, Registered Trademark. Sree Chaguturu, Medical Doctor, Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, CVS Caremark.
Hi, my name is Dr. Sree. I'm here to answer your questions around safety and side effects around the COVID-19 vaccines.
The vaccine was made very quickly. Did this compromise safety?
The vaccines were created quickly. However, one of the questions that people have been asking is did that compromise safety and the answer is no, it did not. When we set out to study these vaccines, the FDA was clear about their expectations of the number of individuals and how closely we needed to track the safety events during these trials. 30 to 60,000 people were involved in these trials and the safety events were tracked closely across those trials. In addition, we are tracking safety events moving forward after the authorization. The safety events appear to look very similar to the flu vaccine with some mild irritation, sometimes flu-like symptoms for a day or two after, but in general, these appear to be incredibly safe vaccines, similar to the flu vaccine. So yes, they were created quickly, but they also appear to be very safe.
Can I get the vaccine if I have underlying health conditions or if I’m immunocompromised?
You might be wondering, should I get the COVID-19 vaccine if I have an underlying health condition or I'm immunocompromised. Ultimately these are discussions that you need to have with your primary care physician or your treating provider. The COVID-19 vaccine prevents you from getting symptomatic or severe COVID-19. And if you have an underlying health condition or immunocompromised, that protection is likely to be better for you than foregoing the COVID-19 vaccine and potentially getting sick from COVID-19 with your underlying health conditions or being immunocompromised. Again, these are discussions that you need to have with your primary care provider, but given the overall safety of these vaccines, they appear to be a really prudent choice for most individuals to get the vaccine than to forego getting vaccinated if you have underlying health conditions or are immunocompromised.
Can I get the vaccine if I’m pregnant, trying to conceive, or breastfeeding?
If you're trying to conceive, are pregnant or breastfeeding answering the question of whether or not to get the COVID-19 vaccine, again is one that you should have with your physician. These vaccines were not studied in any of those conditions. However, the overwhelming safety of the COVID-19 vaccines has led the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists to advise that most patients would likely benefit from getting the COVID-19 vaccine during conception, pregnancy or breastfeeding. Again, have the discussion with your provider. However, the benefits of the COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy, breastfeeding or conception likely are much more beneficial than foregoing the vaccine.
What are the short- and long-term side effects of COVID-19 vaccines?
What are the short and long-term side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine? As a reminder, these are vaccines that require two doses. The small percentage of individuals after they receive their first or second dose will experience some site tenderness around the injection site, low grade fevers, some joint pains, chills. However, these are very short-lived about a day. They tend to be more often about 10% of individuals after the second dose compared to the first dose. But again, short-lived lasting about a day. These safety profiles appear to be similar regardless of the vaccines that are currently authorized today, Moderna and Pfizer, very similar safety, short term side effect profiles. In terms of long-term side effect profiles, given that these are relatively new vaccines, we don't know what the long-term side effects are however, we have no real reason to believe that there will be long-term side effects. When we look at other vaccines that have been approved to date, most side effects are short-term side effects. Like the ones that I had just described. Therefore, we have little expectation that there will be long-term side effects and these will be vaccines that will be closely monitored starting from their authorization moving forward so that we have a very good sense of what the long-term side effects will be. Again, the short-term side effects look very similar to the flu vaccine and other vaccines, very manageable short-term. And long-term we have very little reason to believe that there will be long-term side effects.
How will the Health Care system track and study the side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine?
One of the questions that people are asking is how are we going to track side effects, short and long-term? There's really two major ways that we're tracking. One is from the providers of the vaccines. And we're using a system called the Vaccine Adverse Event reporting System from the Centers for Disease Control is also known as VAERS. The VAERS system allows us as vaccinators to report whenever we have any adverse events so that the CDC can understand what might be happening across the country. In addition, when you receive your vaccine, you will get an information sheet, which allows you to report if you were to have any adverse events to the Centers for Disease Control. And that also allows you to have a code to an application called, V-safe. If you have a smartphone, which allows you to download the safe and report on your smartphone or to use non smartphone ways of reporting as well. And all of that will be detailed out in your information sheet. But again, we will be tracking as a healthcare system, both providers of vaccines when we see adverse events, as well as if you experience any side effects through the V-safe program and reporting that, and we'll have a better understanding of any side effects that we see across the country.
Should I be worried about having an allergic reaction to the vaccine?
Allergic reactions to the vaccine have been incredibly rare and it appears that the individuals who are having allergic reactions in these rare cases are because they have an allergy to this specific ingredient called polyethylene glycol. You'll be asked about your history of allergic reactions to vaccines. And when you get that vaccine administered, you will also be observed for 15 minutes. And if you've had any history of allergic reaction in the past to vaccinations, there'll be observed for a longer period of time. So by both asking you the question, have you had an allergy, as well as the procedures that we're going to have to make sure that we're monitoring how you react to the vaccine will help us to ensure that we can react if there is an allergic reaction. And when you get vaccinated, all of the individuals have been trained on how to manage those allergic reactions and they have the medications necessary to be able to manage the allergic reactions. So all of these things combined asking you questions, observing you after the vaccination and having the right medications and policies and procedures and training in place will ensure that we protect your health when you get the vaccine.
If I am vaccinated against COVID-19, can I spread the virus to others?
If you've received the COVID-19 vaccine, can you still spread the virus to others? It's a good question. And one that we don't know the answer to just yet, we are studying this question, but what we do know is that the COVID-19 vaccine prevents you from getting severe COVID-19 or symptomatic COVID-19 disease. We are trying to figure out and studies are underway on whether or not it will prevent the spread of the virus to others. What we do know is that there's layers of protection. The vaccine is one layer of protection. But in addition to that, all of the other things that we've been doing to date hand-washing, wearing a mask, social distancing will help us protect all of us against the spread of the virus. So again, the vaccine helps you protect against symptomatic disease. We'll have a better understanding of whether or not it will protect us from the spread of the virus. And once you get vaccinated, continue to do all the things that you've been doing to date, hand-washing, social distancing, mask wearing, and together we’ll help prevent the spread of the virus to others.
CVS Health, Registered Trademark.
Hear from Dr. Sree about the safety of the FDA-authorized vaccines as well as mild side effects you may experience when you get your vaccination.
In the video, Dr. Sree answers questions like:
COVID-19 Vaccines: Your questions, answered. CVS Health, Registered Trademark. Sree Chaguturu, Medical Doctor, Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, CVS Caremark.
Hi, my name is Dr. Sree. I'm here to answer your questions around safety and side effects around the COVID-19 vaccines.
The vaccine was made very quickly. Did this compromise safety?
The vaccines were created quickly. However, one of the questions that people have been asking is did that compromise safety and the answer is no, it did not. When we set out to study these vaccines, the FDA was clear about their expectations of the number of individuals and how closely we needed to track the safety events during these trials. 30 to 60,000 people were involved in these trials and the safety events were tracked closely across those trials. In addition, we are tracking safety events moving forward after the authorization. The safety events appear to look very similar to the flu vaccine with some mild irritation, sometimes flu-like symptoms for a day or two after, but in general, these appear to be incredibly safe vaccines, similar to the flu vaccine. So yes, they were created quickly, but they also appear to be very safe.
Can I get the vaccine if I have underlying health conditions or if I’m immunocompromised?
You might be wondering, should I get the COVID-19 vaccine if I have an underlying health condition or I'm immunocompromised. Ultimately these are discussions that you need to have with your primary care physician or your treating provider. The COVID-19 vaccine prevents you from getting symptomatic or severe COVID-19. And if you have an underlying health condition or immunocompromised, that protection is likely to be better for you than foregoing the COVID-19 vaccine and potentially getting sick from COVID-19 with your underlying health conditions or being immunocompromised. Again, these are discussions that you need to have with your primary care provider, but given the overall safety of these vaccines, they appear to be a really prudent choice for most individuals to get the vaccine than to forego getting vaccinated if you have underlying health conditions or are immunocompromised.
Can I get the vaccine if I’m pregnant, trying to conceive, or breastfeeding?
If you're trying to conceive, are pregnant or breastfeeding answering the question of whether or not to get the COVID-19 vaccine, again is one that you should have with your physician. These vaccines were not studied in any of those conditions. However, the overwhelming safety of the COVID-19 vaccines has led the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists to advise that most patients would likely benefit from getting the COVID-19 vaccine during conception, pregnancy or breastfeeding. Again, have the discussion with your provider. However, the benefits of the COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy, breastfeeding or conception likely are much more beneficial than foregoing the vaccine.
What are the short- and long-term side effects of COVID-19 vaccines?
What are the short and long-term side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine? As a reminder, these are vaccines that require two doses. The small percentage of individuals after they receive their first or second dose will experience some site tenderness around the injection site, low grade fevers, some joint pains, chills. However, these are very short-lived about a day. They tend to be more often about 10% of individuals after the second dose compared to the first dose. But again, short-lived lasting about a day. These safety profiles appear to be similar regardless of the vaccines that are currently authorized today, Moderna and Pfizer, very similar safety, short term side effect profiles. In terms of long-term side effect profiles, given that these are relatively new vaccines, we don't know what the long-term side effects are however, we have no real reason to believe that there will be long-term side effects. When we look at other vaccines that have been approved to date, most side effects are short-term side effects. Like the ones that I had just described. Therefore, we have little expectation that there will be long-term side effects and these will be vaccines that will be closely monitored starting from their authorization moving forward so that we have a very good sense of what the long-term side effects will be. Again, the short-term side effects look very similar to the flu vaccine and other vaccines, very manageable short-term. And long-term we have very little reason to believe that there will be long-term side effects.
How will the Health Care system track and study the side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine?
One of the questions that people are asking is how are we going to track side effects, short and long-term? There's really two major ways that we're tracking. One is from the providers of the vaccines. And we're using a system called the Vaccine Adverse Event reporting System from the Centers for Disease Control is also known as VAERS. The VAERS system allows us as vaccinators to report whenever we have any adverse events so that the CDC can understand what might be happening across the country. In addition, when you receive your vaccine, you will get an information sheet, which allows you to report if you were to have any adverse events to the Centers for Disease Control. And that also allows you to have a code to an application called, V-safe. If you have a smartphone, which allows you to download the safe and report on your smartphone or to use non smartphone ways of reporting as well. And all of that will be detailed out in your information sheet. But again, we will be tracking as a healthcare system, both providers of vaccines when we see adverse events, as well as if you experience any side effects through the V-safe program and reporting that, and we'll have a better understanding of any side effects that we see across the country.
Should I be worried about having an allergic reaction to the vaccine?
Allergic reactions to the vaccine have been incredibly rare and it appears that the individuals who are having allergic reactions in these rare cases are because they have an allergy to this specific ingredient called polyethylene glycol. You'll be asked about your history of allergic reactions to vaccines. And when you get that vaccine administered, you will also be observed for 15 minutes. And if you've had any history of allergic reaction in the past to vaccinations, there'll be observed for a longer period of time. So by both asking you the question, have you had an allergy, as well as the procedures that we're going to have to make sure that we're monitoring how you react to the vaccine will help us to ensure that we can react if there is an allergic reaction. And when you get vaccinated, all of the individuals have been trained on how to manage those allergic reactions and they have the medications necessary to be able to manage the allergic reactions. So all of these things combined asking you questions, observing you after the vaccination and having the right medications and policies and procedures and training in place will ensure that we protect your health when you get the vaccine.
If I am vaccinated against COVID-19, can I spread the virus to others?
If you've received the COVID-19 vaccine, can you still spread the virus to others? It's a good question. And one that we don't know the answer to just yet, we are studying this question, but what we do know is that the COVID-19 vaccine prevents you from getting severe COVID-19 or symptomatic COVID-19 disease. We are trying to figure out and studies are underway on whether or not it will prevent the spread of the virus to others. What we do know is that there's layers of protection. The vaccine is one layer of protection. But in addition to that, all of the other things that we've been doing to date hand-washing, wearing a mask, social distancing will help us protect all of us against the spread of the virus. So again, the vaccine helps you protect against symptomatic disease. We'll have a better understanding of whether or not it will protect us from the spread of the virus. And once you get vaccinated, continue to do all the things that you've been doing to date, hand-washing, social distancing, mask wearing, and together we’ll help prevent the spread of the virus to others.
CVS Health, Registered Trademark.
Hear from Dr. Sree about the safety of the FDA-authorized vaccines as well as mild side effects you may experience when you get your vaccination.
In the video, Dr. Sree answers questions like:
COVID-19 Vaccines: Your questions, answered. CVS Health, Registered Trademark. Sree Chaguturu, Medical Doctor, Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, CVS Caremark.
Hi, my name is Dr. Sree, and I've been getting a lot of questions around the vaccines and their effectiveness. And I wanted to spend a few moments talking about the vaccines that are currently authorized and what their effectiveness is.
Are the two currently FDA-authorized vaccines equally effective?
Are the two currently FDA authorized vaccines equal in effectiveness? And the answer is yes. They were made using similar technologies. And based on the studies that were submitted for authorization to the Food and Drug Administration, they have relatively equal effectiveness of approximately 95 percent effectiveness in preventing severe or symptomatic COVID-19 disease after you've completed two doses of these vaccines. So again, to summarize, they are equal in effectiveness.
Can I choose which vaccine I get?
Right now, the two vaccines appear to be equally effective. So there really is no reason to have to choose between one vaccine or another. Over time there'll be more vaccines that are authorized for use, and we'll better understand what their effectiveness will be. And the U S government will then decide which vaccines will be given to which administrators like CVS Health. So there may not be choices when you go to your provider about which vaccine is available in that specific location. So over time, we'll have a better sense of what vaccine availability will look like. Right now there's no need to choose. And if there are more vaccines with different efficacies, over time providers will help you understand what's the right vaccine for you. And these will be decisions that you'll make with your providers and health care trusted sources.
What happens if I’m late getting my second dose? What if I skip the second dose?
Will you still be protected from the virus if you're late to your second vaccine dose or if you completely missed that second dose? This is a complicated question. The current vaccines that have been authorized are two dose vaccines. That means that you need to complete two doses to get the full efficacy of these vaccines. One of the vaccines requires you to get the second dose 21 days after and the other one requires 28 days after. When you get vaccinated, you'll be recommended based on the type of vaccine you received on how many days after you should get that second dose. There is some wiggle room around when to get that second dose. And so, life gets in the way. You may not exactly get the dose on the 21st day or the 28th day. And the guidance right now is you can get it a few days earlier, or if you miss that second dose, get it whenever you can.
However, to the best of your ability, when you schedule that second dose, try to get it around the recommended date that is provided to you. Will you still be protected if you're late? The answer is likely yes, you will be protected. And when you complete that second dose, you'll get the full protection. What happens if you don't get that second dose at all? You are unlikely to get the full efficacy of that vaccine. And therefore knowing that it's okay to be late, you can get that second dose later. But again, I can't emphasize enough: What we know is that 95 percent effectiveness rate for preventing severe symptomatic COVID-19 disease is when you complete both doses in a timely manner. And we'll do our best as a health care system to make sure that you have that second appointment and meet those timelines.
After I get the second dose, how long before the vaccine takes effect?
After you get the second dose, how long does it take before the vaccine takes effect? Remember, these are two dose vaccines. So for you to get the full effectiveness of the vaccine, you need to complete both doses. And it appears that the effectiveness of 95 percent in preventing severe or symptomatic COVID-19 disease occurs one to two weeks after you complete that second dose. So after you've received your doses, it is important to continue to wear a mask, handwash, socially distance to protect yourself from COVID-19. And then I want to remind you that after you've received a vaccine, we still don't know if you can still spread COVID-19 if you do get exposed to COVID-19. Therefore, after you've gotten the vaccine, continue to handwash, socially distance, and wear a mask to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Will the vaccines be effective on the new strains of COVID-19?
We have been hearing about mutations of COVID-19 virus across the globe. And one of the questions that people are asking is: Will the vaccine work on the new strains? Both officials at the two companies that have created the authorized vaccines, Pfizer and Moderna, have released statements saying that their vaccine candidate is effective against these new strains of COVID-19. Additionally, the technology that's used for both Pfizer and Moderna allows for boosters or updating of the vaccine in case they need to be modified to better protect us against these new variants. We will better understand what the overall effectiveness is against the new strains. Over time, they do appear to have protection against the new strains. And I am reassured the fact that we can update the vaccines to ensure that we have continued effectiveness against any emergence of new mutations or new strains of the COVID-19 virus.
How often will I need to receive a COVID-19 vaccine?
How often will you need to get the COVID-19 vaccine? We're not sure just yet. The current thinking is that this will likely be an annual vaccine that might require a booster on an annual basis to protect you against the COVID-19 virus. We also know that the COVID-19 virus is changing. So therefore the vaccines might need to be updated to give you the protection against any new mutations. However, at this time we don't know the answer, but likely will be an annual vaccine until we know better.
CVS Health, Registered Trademark.
Dr. Sree answers some common questions about how the two FDA-authorized vaccines work to protect people from COVID-19.
In the video, Dr. Sree answers questions like:
COVID-19 Vaccines: Your questions, answered. CVS Health, Registered Trademark. Sree Chaguturu, Medical Doctor, Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, CVS Caremark.
Hi, my name is Dr. Sree, and I've been getting a lot of questions around the vaccines and their effectiveness. And I wanted to spend a few moments talking about the vaccines that are currently authorized and what their effectiveness is.
Are the two currently FDA-authorized vaccines equally effective?
Are the two currently FDA authorized vaccines equal in effectiveness? And the answer is yes. They were made using similar technologies. And based on the studies that were submitted for authorization to the Food and Drug Administration, they have relatively equal effectiveness of approximately 95 percent effectiveness in preventing severe or symptomatic COVID-19 disease after you've completed two doses of these vaccines. So again, to summarize, they are equal in effectiveness.
Can I choose which vaccine I get?
Right now, the two vaccines appear to be equally effective. So there really is no reason to have to choose between one vaccine or another. Over time there'll be more vaccines that are authorized for use, and we'll better understand what their effectiveness will be. And the U S government will then decide which vaccines will be given to which administrators like CVS Health. So there may not be choices when you go to your provider about which vaccine is available in that specific location. So over time, we'll have a better sense of what vaccine availability will look like. Right now there's no need to choose. And if there are more vaccines with different efficacies, over time providers will help you understand what's the right vaccine for you. And these will be decisions that you'll make with your providers and health care trusted sources.
What happens if I’m late getting my second dose? What if I skip the second dose?
Will you still be protected from the virus if you're late to your second vaccine dose or if you completely missed that second dose? This is a complicated question. The current vaccines that have been authorized are two dose vaccines. That means that you need to complete two doses to get the full efficacy of these vaccines. One of the vaccines requires you to get the second dose 21 days after and the other one requires 28 days after. When you get vaccinated, you'll be recommended based on the type of vaccine you received on how many days after you should get that second dose. There is some wiggle room around when to get that second dose. And so, life gets in the way. You may not exactly get the dose on the 21st day or the 28th day. And the guidance right now is you can get it a few days earlier, or if you miss that second dose, get it whenever you can.
However, to the best of your ability, when you schedule that second dose, try to get it around the recommended date that is provided to you. Will you still be protected if you're late? The answer is likely yes, you will be protected. And when you complete that second dose, you'll get the full protection. What happens if you don't get that second dose at all? You are unlikely to get the full efficacy of that vaccine. And therefore knowing that it's okay to be late, you can get that second dose later. But again, I can't emphasize enough: What we know is that 95 percent effectiveness rate for preventing severe symptomatic COVID-19 disease is when you complete both doses in a timely manner. And we'll do our best as a health care system to make sure that you have that second appointment and meet those timelines.
After I get the second dose, how long before the vaccine takes effect?
After you get the second dose, how long does it take before the vaccine takes effect? Remember, these are two dose vaccines. So for you to get the full effectiveness of the vaccine, you need to complete both doses. And it appears that the effectiveness of 95 percent in preventing severe or symptomatic COVID-19 disease occurs one to two weeks after you complete that second dose. So after you've received your doses, it is important to continue to wear a mask, handwash, socially distance to protect yourself from COVID-19. And then I want to remind you that after you've received a vaccine, we still don't know if you can still spread COVID-19 if you do get exposed to COVID-19. Therefore, after you've gotten the vaccine, continue to handwash, socially distance, and wear a mask to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Will the vaccines be effective on the new strains of COVID-19?
We have been hearing about mutations of COVID-19 virus across the globe. And one of the questions that people are asking is: Will the vaccine work on the new strains? Both officials at the two companies that have created the authorized vaccines, Pfizer and Moderna, have released statements saying that their vaccine candidate is effective against these new strains of COVID-19. Additionally, the technology that's used for both Pfizer and Moderna allows for boosters or updating of the vaccine in case they need to be modified to better protect us against these new variants. We will better understand what the overall effectiveness is against the new strains. Over time, they do appear to have protection against the new strains. And I am reassured the fact that we can update the vaccines to ensure that we have continued effectiveness against any emergence of new mutations or new strains of the COVID-19 virus.
How often will I need to receive a COVID-19 vaccine?
How often will you need to get the COVID-19 vaccine? We're not sure just yet. The current thinking is that this will likely be an annual vaccine that might require a booster on an annual basis to protect you against the COVID-19 virus. We also know that the COVID-19 virus is changing. So therefore the vaccines might need to be updated to give you the protection against any new mutations. However, at this time we don't know the answer, but likely will be an annual vaccine until we know better.
CVS Health, Registered Trademark.
Dr. Sree answers some common questions about how the two FDA-authorized vaccines work to protect people from COVID-19.
In the video, Dr. Sree answers questions like:
COVID-19 Vaccines: Your questions, answered. CVS Health, Registered Trademark. Sree Chaguturu, Medical Doctor, Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, CVS Caremark.
Hi, my name is Dr. Sree, and there's been a lot of information that's been floating around about the COVID-19 vaccines. And I wanted to take some time to figure out what is myth and fact about the COVID-19 vaccines.
MYTH: The vaccine will give a person COVID-19.
Will the vaccine give a person COVID-19? No, the vaccine will not give you COVID-19. Quite the opposite. It is meant to protect you against COVID-19 symptomatic or severe disease. What we're doing is training your immune system to recognize COVID-19. So if you do get infected, your immune system can be called into action and prevent COVID-19 from spreading and causing you symptomatic disease. But the vaccine itself is not COVID-19. It is instructions to train your immune system. And by getting the vaccine, we're not giving you COVID-19. We're just making your immune system stronger to be able to fight against COVID-19.
MYTH: The vaccine can cause serious illness or even death.
Will the vaccine cause serious illness or even death? No, actually quite the opposite. The point of a vaccine is to train your immune system to fight against COVID-19. And what we do know is that COVID-19 in and of itself causes serious illness and even death. As we have seen over the past year, the vaccine itself, as we have discussed earlier, has in rare events some side effects that are very similar to flu vaccines with site injection pain, mild fevers, tenderness, joint pains, chills, and those usually last for a day or so. There have been no patients in the trials that have died from receiving the vaccines. And over time, we are tracking the safety of these vaccines to determine long-term side effects. They appear to be very safe, and therefore it is important to recognize the vaccines are doing quite the opposite, protecting you against serious illness or death. And they will not cause serious illness or death.
MYTH: mRNA vaccines can alter a person’s genes.
Will mRNA vaccines alter a person's genes? There's a lot to this question, but let me just definitively answer, no, they do not alter a person's genes. Well, let's better understand what the statement even means. mRNA vaccines are a technology that's used in COVID-19 vaccines by Pfizer and Moderna. And mRNA trains our immune system. You can think of it like a recipe or a blueprint to train your immune system to see one part of the coronavirus called the spike protein. And that mRNA blueprint trains the immune system to recognize the spike protein. And if they see if your immune system in the future sees a coronavirus in the body, it will then call the immune system to action to prevent spread of the virus and protect you against severe or symptomatic COVID-19 disease. The mRNA that is in these vaccines is temporary. It doesn't go into the nucleus, which is where your genetic code is. And it disappears after a short period of time. It is not a longstanding element in your body. And so again, the mRNA vaccines train your immune system to recognize the COVID-19 virus. And then after your immune system is trained, the mRNA itself that's in the vaccine disintegrates, is no longer in your body and does not alter your genes.
MYTH: The vaccines are not safe because manufacturers cut corners to develop them faster.
Are the vaccines not safe because the manufacturers cut corners and developed them fast? The answer is no. The FDA set out very clear criteria of what is to be expected for authorization. And there were large numbers of individuals, 30,000 to 60,000 individuals who were in these clinical trials. We've discussed earlier about the safety profile of the vaccines. They appear to be relatively safe. And again, because of the technologies that are used, we've been able to build upon science that already existed to create these vaccines. But no shortcuts or corners were cut to make these vaccines. And the safety was paramount in the creation and the investigation and introduction and authorization of these vaccines.
MYTH: I already had COVID-19, so I don’t need to get the vaccine because I’m immune.
I've already had COVID-19, so I don't need to get the vaccine because I'm immune. Is that a true statement? The answer is no. If you've had COVID-19 in the past, you have likely something called natural immunity. Your immune system has learned what COVID-19 looks like, and you have some protection. However, the COVID-19 vaccine provides you additional protection against COVID-19 symptomatic or severe disease. Therefore it is recommended that even if you've had COVID-19 in the past to get the COVID-19 vaccine, to ensure that you have additional protection against future infections.
MYTH: Once I receive both doses of the vaccine, I no longer need to wear a mask in public or follow social distancing guidelines.
Once you've received both doses of the vaccine, do you not need to wear a mask in public or follow social distancing guidelines? The answer is no. Once you've received the vaccine, what we do know is that you're protected against severe symptomatic disease one to two weeks after completing those two doses. What we don't know is whether or not you can still be infected. Not get sick, but still spread the virus to others. The scientific community is continuing to investigate whether or not the COVID-19 vaccine helps prevent the spread of COVID-19 virus. But until we know that, it is important for you to continue to handwash, socially distance and continue to wear a mask. And all of these activities will help us prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus. So again, you'd need to continue to wear a mask in public and follow social distancing guidelines after you receive both doses of the vaccine.
MYTH: I don’t have any underlying health conditions, and I’m under age 65, so I don’t need to get the vaccine.
If you don't have underlying health conditions and you aren't under age 65, do you still need to get the vaccine? The answer is yes. Regardless of your risk, you can still contract the infection. We know that COVID-19 is more dangerous in the elderly or the immunocompromised or individuals with multiple health conditions. But by getting the COVID-19 vaccine, if you're young or healthy, you are protecting your family and yourself and your community. So yes, it is important when it is your time to get the COVID-19 vaccine to stand up, roll up your sleeve and get that shot.
MYTH: The vaccine can cause infertility in women and men.
Will the vaccine cause infertility in women and men? The answer is no. COVID-19 vaccines have not been linked to infertility in men or women. And there is no increased risk of miscarriage. There's been a lot of concerns on the internet around the potential for infertility. And there's some question or concern that COVID-19 vaccine trains the immune system in a way that might cause infertility. But at this time there's absolutely no evidence that infertility has occurred in women and men. And quite the opposite. What we have seen is a lot of pregnancies over the past year in the context of the pandemic. And we know that people have been able to continue to have children during the pandemic and therefore the COVID-19 vaccine does not appear to have caused infertility and neither does COVID-19 itself seem to cause any infertility in women or men.
CVS Health, Registered Trademark.
There is no shortage of rumors and misinformation online regarding the COVID-19 vaccines. Dr. Sree sets the record straight.
In the video, Dr. Sree answers questions to address myths like:
COVID-19 Vaccines: Your questions, answered. CVS Health, Registered Trademark. Sree Chaguturu, Medical Doctor, Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, CVS Caremark.
Hi, my name is Dr. Sree, and there's been a lot of information that's been floating around about the COVID-19 vaccines. And I wanted to take some time to figure out what is myth and fact about the COVID-19 vaccines.
MYTH: The vaccine will give a person COVID-19.
Will the vaccine give a person COVID-19? No, the vaccine will not give you COVID-19. Quite the opposite. It is meant to protect you against COVID-19 symptomatic or severe disease. What we're doing is training your immune system to recognize COVID-19. So if you do get infected, your immune system can be called into action and prevent COVID-19 from spreading and causing you symptomatic disease. But the vaccine itself is not COVID-19. It is instructions to train your immune system. And by getting the vaccine, we're not giving you COVID-19. We're just making your immune system stronger to be able to fight against COVID-19.
MYTH: The vaccine can cause serious illness or even death.
Will the vaccine cause serious illness or even death? No, actually quite the opposite. The point of a vaccine is to train your immune system to fight against COVID-19. And what we do know is that COVID-19 in and of itself causes serious illness and even death. As we have seen over the past year, the vaccine itself, as we have discussed earlier, has in rare events some side effects that are very similar to flu vaccines with site injection pain, mild fevers, tenderness, joint pains, chills, and those usually last for a day or so. There have been no patients in the trials that have died from receiving the vaccines. And over time, we are tracking the safety of these vaccines to determine long-term side effects. They appear to be very safe, and therefore it is important to recognize the vaccines are doing quite the opposite, protecting you against serious illness or death. And they will not cause serious illness or death.
MYTH: mRNA vaccines can alter a person’s genes.
Will mRNA vaccines alter a person's genes? There's a lot to this question, but let me just definitively answer, no, they do not alter a person's genes. Well, let's better understand what the statement even means. mRNA vaccines are a technology that's used in COVID-19 vaccines by Pfizer and Moderna. And mRNA trains our immune system. You can think of it like a recipe or a blueprint to train your immune system to see one part of the coronavirus called the spike protein. And that mRNA blueprint trains the immune system to recognize the spike protein. And if they see if your immune system in the future sees a coronavirus in the body, it will then call the immune system to action to prevent spread of the virus and protect you against severe or symptomatic COVID-19 disease. The mRNA that is in these vaccines is temporary. It doesn't go into the nucleus, which is where your genetic code is. And it disappears after a short period of time. It is not a longstanding element in your body. And so again, the mRNA vaccines train your immune system to recognize the COVID-19 virus. And then after your immune system is trained, the mRNA itself that's in the vaccine disintegrates, is no longer in your body and does not alter your genes.
MYTH: The vaccines are not safe because manufacturers cut corners to develop them faster.
Are the vaccines not safe because the manufacturers cut corners and developed them fast? The answer is no. The FDA set out very clear criteria of what is to be expected for authorization. And there were large numbers of individuals, 30,000 to 60,000 individuals who were in these clinical trials. We've discussed earlier about the safety profile of the vaccines. They appear to be relatively safe. And again, because of the technologies that are used, we've been able to build upon science that already existed to create these vaccines. But no shortcuts or corners were cut to make these vaccines. And the safety was paramount in the creation and the investigation and introduction and authorization of these vaccines.
MYTH: I already had COVID-19, so I don’t need to get the vaccine because I’m immune.
I've already had COVID-19, so I don't need to get the vaccine because I'm immune. Is that a true statement? The answer is no. If you've had COVID-19 in the past, you have likely something called natural immunity. Your immune system has learned what COVID-19 looks like, and you have some protection. However, the COVID-19 vaccine provides you additional protection against COVID-19 symptomatic or severe disease. Therefore it is recommended that even if you've had COVID-19 in the past to get the COVID-19 vaccine, to ensure that you have additional protection against future infections.
MYTH: Once I receive both doses of the vaccine, I no longer need to wear a mask in public or follow social distancing guidelines.
Once you've received both doses of the vaccine, do you not need to wear a mask in public or follow social distancing guidelines? The answer is no. Once you've received the vaccine, what we do know is that you're protected against severe symptomatic disease one to two weeks after completing those two doses. What we don't know is whether or not you can still be infected. Not get sick, but still spread the virus to others. The scientific community is continuing to investigate whether or not the COVID-19 vaccine helps prevent the spread of COVID-19 virus. But until we know that, it is important for you to continue to handwash, socially distance and continue to wear a mask. And all of these activities will help us prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus. So again, you'd need to continue to wear a mask in public and follow social distancing guidelines after you receive both doses of the vaccine.
MYTH: I don’t have any underlying health conditions, and I’m under age 65, so I don’t need to get the vaccine.
If you don't have underlying health conditions and you aren't under age 65, do you still need to get the vaccine? The answer is yes. Regardless of your risk, you can still contract the infection. We know that COVID-19 is more dangerous in the elderly or the immunocompromised or individuals with multiple health conditions. But by getting the COVID-19 vaccine, if you're young or healthy, you are protecting your family and yourself and your community. So yes, it is important when it is your time to get the COVID-19 vaccine to stand up, roll up your sleeve and get that shot.
MYTH: The vaccine can cause infertility in women and men.
Will the vaccine cause infertility in women and men? The answer is no. COVID-19 vaccines have not been linked to infertility in men or women. And there is no increased risk of miscarriage. There's been a lot of concerns on the internet around the potential for infertility. And there's some question or concern that COVID-19 vaccine trains the immune system in a way that might cause infertility. But at this time there's absolutely no evidence that infertility has occurred in women and men. And quite the opposite. What we have seen is a lot of pregnancies over the past year in the context of the pandemic. And we know that people have been able to continue to have children during the pandemic and therefore the COVID-19 vaccine does not appear to have caused infertility and neither does COVID-19 itself seem to cause any infertility in women or men.
CVS Health, Registered Trademark.
There is no shortage of rumors and misinformation online regarding the COVID-19 vaccines. Dr. Sree sets the record straight.
In the video, Dr. Sree answers questions to address myths like:
COVID-19 Vaccines: Your questions, answered. CVS Health, Registered Trademark. Sree Chaguturu, Medical Doctor, Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, CVS Caremark.
Hi, my name is Dr. Sree, and I've been getting a lot of questions from people about when they can get vaccinated and where they can get vaccinated. So I wanted to spend a few moments, really talking through those questions about when and where you can get vaccinated.
How is the vaccine being distributed in this country?
How is the vaccine being distributed across America? Let me take a few moments to explain how the vaccine is moving from the manufacturers, the pharmaceutical companies, to the federal government, and then to trusted vaccinators across the country. And there's a couple of pathways that that's occurring. The federal government has created partnership programs. One of those is with pharmacies and pharmacies, such as CVS Health, are receiving vaccines to help with vaccination efforts across the country. One such program is for long-term care and skilled nursing facilities. And CVS Health has been partnered up along with many other pharmacies across the country to make sure that some of our most vulnerable individuals in the country, the elderly living in congregate facilities, receive vaccines because of the high death rate and mortality of COVID-19 for those individuals. So that's the long-term care program. The second is called a Federal Pharmacy Partnership program where over time the federal government will provide vaccines to pharmacies such as CVS Health, to be able to administer it in retail pharmacies in your community. And that will be rolling out over the upcoming months, weeks, and months. The other path to getting vaccine access is from the federal government to the states. And then the states then work to provide vaccines to their trusted partners, such as departments of public health, hospital systems, physician offices, or pharmacies, and therefore states can adapt their vaccine rollout response based on local circumstance. So again, to summarize, the federal government will work with pharmacies and with states, and then the states will work with their trusted partners to ensure that vaccine is distributed across the country.
When can I get the vaccine (when it will be “my turn”)?
When can you get the vaccine and when will it be your turn? The federal government has provided guidance to state and local health authorities to help answer that specific question and then state and local health authorities are adapting the guidance on who should get the vaccine when to meet their local circumstance. So for you, by understanding your local health authorities prioritization by either contacting your health department, talking to your providers, or going to CVS.com, you'll better understand where you lie in the prioritization. The goal is for everyone to be vaccinated and there will be a time where you qualify and by keeping in contact with your health authorities and health providers, or with us at CVS.com, you'll better understand when it's your turn to be vaccinated.
Where do I go to get the vaccine?
Where do you go to get the vaccine? As vaccine supply expands across the country, there will be more and more locations that will be able to provide vaccinations by keeping in touch with your state and local health authorities. You'll have a better understanding of where there's vaccines available and what their availability is to see patients. We believe that retail pharmacies will play a very key role as well as doctor's offices and hospital systems, as well as mass vaccination sites. All of these will be available sites over time and more and more of these will be available over time. So keep in contact with your trusted health sources, the public health department and your primary care providers or sources such as CVS.com and you'll have a better understanding of where there will be availability in your local community.
Can I get the vaccine at CVS Pharmacy?
Currently, we are opening up more and more stores as vaccine availability expands across the country. We'll do this in accordance with state and local health authorities to ensure that eligible populations are able to receive the vaccine, according to the prioritizations of the local health authorities. And over time, we'll continue to open up more pharmacies across the country to be able to provide vaccinations in your local community.
To find out if the vaccine is available in your local community, please visit CVS.com and you'll understand whether it's available and if you are specifically eligible based on the state screening criteria. Over time, there'll be more availability across the country and we look forward to being able to provide you vaccinations in our CVS pharmacies.
How much will it cost me to get vaccinated?
How much will it cost for you to get the COVID-19 vaccine? You will not be charged for getting the COVID-19 vaccine or its administration. However, it's important that there is reimbursement to those individuals who are providing the COVID-19 vaccine and therefore you will be asked for your insurance information to ensure the appropriate reimbursement for the vaccinators. However, you, out of pocket, will not pay for anything. The federal government has paid for the vaccine. And if you don't have insurance, there's a separate program, federal government program, to ensure you are able to get the vaccine. But again, you will need to provide your insurance information if you have insurance to ensure that there's appropriate reimbursement to the individuals providing the vaccine and you will not pay out of pocket.
Can my children get the vaccine?
Can your children get the vaccine? Currently Moderna, which is one of the manufacturers of the COVID-19 vaccine, is only authorized for 18 years or older. The other vaccine is from a company called Pfizer and they're authorized for 16 years of age or older. Both of these companies, as well as the other companies that are racing to develop COVID-19 vaccines, are committed to understanding the effectiveness of the vaccine in pediatric populations. At this time, there is not a vaccine available for children under the age of 16. However, over time, the manufacturers, the pharmaceutical companies, will be studying and there will be vaccine availability for children. That likely isn't until later on in 2021, or maybe not even until 2022. We will continue to keep you apprised of when a pediatric vaccine is available. But at this time over the age of 16 for Pfizer and 18 and over for Moderna are the current authorized ages for the COVID-19 vaccine.
Can I get vaccinated if I currently have COVID-19 or if I have cold symptoms?
Can you get vaccinated if you currently have COVID-19 or you have symptoms suggestive of COVID-19? The answer right now is no, we recommend that you wait till after your symptoms have resolved. After they've resolved, then you should discuss with your primary care provider about when is the right time to get a COVID 19 vaccine. However, if you have current symptoms of COVID-19, or have diagnosed COVID-19, until you have your symptoms resolved and you recover from COVID-19, you should not get the vaccine.\
Do I still need to get vaccinated if I already had COVID-19?
Do you still need to get the COVID-19 vaccine after you've had COVID-19? The answer is, yes. Let's talk a little bit more about when is the right time to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Right now, after you've received, after you've been infected with COVID-19, you likely have immunity up to 90 days after infection. So you could wait up to 90 days after you have resolved from COVID-19 before you get the vaccination. However, you can talk to your primary care provider or your treating providers about whether or not it makes sense for you to receive it earlier than that 90 day window based on other clinical criteria is that you should discuss with your providers. But again, should you get the vaccine if you've already had COVID-19? Yes. And waiting 90 days would be okay, but with your provider, you should potentially get it earlier than that 90 days.
CVS Health, Registered Trademark.
The various rollout phases can be confusing. Dr. Sree provides some insights on what to expect when you’re eligible to receive the vaccine.
In the video, Dr. Sree answers questions like:
COVID-19 Vaccines: Your questions, answered. CVS Health, Registered Trademark. Sree Chaguturu, Medical Doctor, Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, CVS Caremark.
Hi, my name is Dr. Sree, and I've been getting a lot of questions from people about when they can get vaccinated and where they can get vaccinated. So I wanted to spend a few moments, really talking through those questions about when and where you can get vaccinated.
How is the vaccine being distributed in this country?
How is the vaccine being distributed across America? Let me take a few moments to explain how the vaccine is moving from the manufacturers, the pharmaceutical companies, to the federal government, and then to trusted vaccinators across the country. And there's a couple of pathways that that's occurring. The federal government has created partnership programs. One of those is with pharmacies and pharmacies, such as CVS Health, are receiving vaccines to help with vaccination efforts across the country. One such program is for long-term care and skilled nursing facilities. And CVS Health has been partnered up along with many other pharmacies across the country to make sure that some of our most vulnerable individuals in the country, the elderly living in congregate facilities, receive vaccines because of the high death rate and mortality of COVID-19 for those individuals. So that's the long-term care program. The second is called a Federal Pharmacy Partnership program where over time the federal government will provide vaccines to pharmacies such as CVS Health, to be able to administer it in retail pharmacies in your community. And that will be rolling out over the upcoming months, weeks, and months. The other path to getting vaccine access is from the federal government to the states. And then the states then work to provide vaccines to their trusted partners, such as departments of public health, hospital systems, physician offices, or pharmacies, and therefore states can adapt their vaccine rollout response based on local circumstance. So again, to summarize, the federal government will work with pharmacies and with states, and then the states will work with their trusted partners to ensure that vaccine is distributed across the country.
When can I get the vaccine (when it will be “my turn”)?
When can you get the vaccine and when will it be your turn? The federal government has provided guidance to state and local health authorities to help answer that specific question and then state and local health authorities are adapting the guidance on who should get the vaccine when to meet their local circumstance. So for you, by understanding your local health authorities prioritization by either contacting your health department, talking to your providers, or going to CVS.com, you'll better understand where you lie in the prioritization. The goal is for everyone to be vaccinated and there will be a time where you qualify and by keeping in contact with your health authorities and health providers, or with us at CVS.com, you'll better understand when it's your turn to be vaccinated.
Where do I go to get the vaccine?
Where do you go to get the vaccine? As vaccine supply expands across the country, there will be more and more locations that will be able to provide vaccinations by keeping in touch with your state and local health authorities. You'll have a better understanding of where there's vaccines available and what their availability is to see patients. We believe that retail pharmacies will play a very key role as well as doctor's offices and hospital systems, as well as mass vaccination sites. All of these will be available sites over time and more and more of these will be available over time. So keep in contact with your trusted health sources, the public health department and your primary care providers or sources such as CVS.com and you'll have a better understanding of where there will be availability in your local community.
Can I get the vaccine at CVS Pharmacy?
Currently, we are opening up more and more stores as vaccine availability expands across the country. We'll do this in accordance with state and local health authorities to ensure that eligible populations are able to receive the vaccine, according to the prioritizations of the local health authorities. And over time, we'll continue to open up more pharmacies across the country to be able to provide vaccinations in your local community.
To find out if the vaccine is available in your local community, please visit CVS.com and you'll understand whether it's available and if you are specifically eligible based on the state screening criteria. Over time, there'll be more availability across the country and we look forward to being able to provide you vaccinations in our CVS pharmacies.
How much will it cost me to get vaccinated?
How much will it cost for you to get the COVID-19 vaccine? You will not be charged for getting the COVID-19 vaccine or its administration. However, it's important that there is reimbursement to those individuals who are providing the COVID-19 vaccine and therefore you will be asked for your insurance information to ensure the appropriate reimbursement for the vaccinators. However, you, out of pocket, will not pay for anything. The federal government has paid for the vaccine. And if you don't have insurance, there's a separate program, federal government program, to ensure you are able to get the vaccine. But again, you will need to provide your insurance information if you have insurance to ensure that there's appropriate reimbursement to the individuals providing the vaccine and you will not pay out of pocket.
Can my children get the vaccine?
Can your children get the vaccine? Currently Moderna, which is one of the manufacturers of the COVID-19 vaccine, is only authorized for 18 years or older. The other vaccine is from a company called Pfizer and they're authorized for 16 years of age or older. Both of these companies, as well as the other companies that are racing to develop COVID-19 vaccines, are committed to understanding the effectiveness of the vaccine in pediatric populations. At this time, there is not a vaccine available for children under the age of 16. However, over time, the manufacturers, the pharmaceutical companies, will be studying and there will be vaccine availability for children. That likely isn't until later on in 2021, or maybe not even until 2022. We will continue to keep you apprised of when a pediatric vaccine is available. But at this time over the age of 16 for Pfizer and 18 and over for Moderna are the current authorized ages for the COVID-19 vaccine.
Can I get vaccinated if I currently have COVID-19 or if I have cold symptoms?
Can you get vaccinated if you currently have COVID-19 or you have symptoms suggestive of COVID-19? The answer right now is no, we recommend that you wait till after your symptoms have resolved. After they've resolved, then you should discuss with your primary care provider about when is the right time to get a COVID 19 vaccine. However, if you have current symptoms of COVID-19, or have diagnosed COVID-19, until you have your symptoms resolved and you recover from COVID-19, you should not get the vaccine.\
Do I still need to get vaccinated if I already had COVID-19?
Do you still need to get the COVID-19 vaccine after you've had COVID-19? The answer is, yes. Let's talk a little bit more about when is the right time to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Right now, after you've received, after you've been infected with COVID-19, you likely have immunity up to 90 days after infection. So you could wait up to 90 days after you have resolved from COVID-19 before you get the vaccination. However, you can talk to your primary care provider or your treating providers about whether or not it makes sense for you to receive it earlier than that 90 day window based on other clinical criteria is that you should discuss with your providers. But again, should you get the vaccine if you've already had COVID-19? Yes. And waiting 90 days would be okay, but with your provider, you should potentially get it earlier than that 90 days.
CVS Health, Registered Trademark.
The various rollout phases can be confusing. Dr. Sree provides some insights on what to expect when you’re eligible to receive the vaccine.
In the video, Dr. Sree answers questions like:
The CDC recommends that anyone who has symptoms of COVID-19, has been in close contact with a person known to have COVID-19, or who lives in or has recently traveled from an area with ongoing spread of COVID-19, should contact their health care provider and be tested.
Schedule a COVID-19 test at CVS Pharmacy
Find other testing locations
For more information about testing, visit the CDC website.
The CDC recommends that anyone who has symptoms of COVID-19, has been in close contact with a person known to have COVID-19, or who lives in or has recently traveled from an area with ongoing spread of COVID-19, should contact their health care provider and be tested.
Schedule a COVID-19 test at CVS Pharmacy
Find other testing locations
For more information about testing, visit the CDC website.
With the CDC recommending that people avoid close contact with others, especially those at high risk, we understand that you may not want or be able to visit the pharmacy to pick up your prescription medications. Home delivery is a good option to ensure you have the medications you need.
With the CDC recommending that people avoid close contact with others, especially those at high risk, we understand that you may not want or be able to visit the pharmacy to pick up your prescription medications. Home delivery is a good option to ensure you have the medications you need.
We can deliver the medications you take regularly by mail in 90-day supplies with no delivery fees.
CVS Pharmacy is waiving charges for 1- to 2-day home delivery of your Rx.
Check with your pharmacy to find out if they offer home delivery. Be sure to ask if there are any delivery fees.
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:
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.
The first COVID-19 vaccines to become available are not yet approved for use in young children. The clinical trials conducted thus far by Pfizer tested its vaccine’s safety and efficacy in patients 16 and older. Moderna’s vaccine was tested in patients 18 and older. Researchers are conducting additional studies on how the vaccines affect younger children. CVS Health is monitoring those trials and will follow the guidance provided by the CDC and FDA regarding the age of individuals eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccines.
As part of the vaccine rollout, CVS Health is currently working with several states to support their programs to immunize other priority populations, including health care workers, frontline essential workers and seniors, in a small number of locations. Please visit CVS.com for the latest updates on when members of these groups can make online appointments for vaccinations at CVS Pharmacy locations in their area. Timing and eligibility will vary from state to state, according to state guidelines.
Once we enter the general population phase of vaccine administration in the coming months (potentially as soon as April or May), CVS Health 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 government will provide CVS Pharmacy with a supply of vaccine to administer in line with prioritization guidelines and we expect to vaccinate in CVS Pharmacy locations nationwide.
All the major national pharmacy chains and several regional pharmacy chains are helping the government administer as many vaccinations as possible. Find a list of pharmacies participating in the administration of the vaccine.
No, you will not be charged for the vaccine or its administration. The vaccine may be covered either under your CVS Caremark pharmacy benefit, your medical benefit, or both depending upon how your employer or health plan elected to provide coverage. In most cases, if the vaccine is administered at a pharmacy, it will be covered under your pharmacy benefit; if it is administered at a clinic or physician’s office, it will be covered under your medical benefit. If your employer or health plan doesn’t cover the vaccine, coverage may be provided by the Health Resources and Services Administration.
Our national delivery suppliers have all adjusted their official protocols regarding packages requesting a signature.
The carriers are doing their best to ensure social distancing, so will not be requiring an actual signature. Instead, they ask for the person’s name (at a distance) so that they can record the name on their electronic device and depending on the carrier, will enter an additional code; no physical signature should be required.
Yes, CVS Specialty® patients can have their medications delivered to their homes with no delivery charge. If you would like your specialty medications delivered to your home, you will need to change your delivery preference. To get started, sign in to CVSspecialty.com and change your delivery preference.