Get the latest information on vaccine scheduling and safety. With every COVID-19 vaccination administered, we get #OneStepCloser to a better tomorrow.
GO TO:
Schedule an appointment for the vaccine in select stores.
View a list of pharmacies participating in the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website.
One Step Closer
I cannot wait to live freely...with no fear. It's been tough, but you've got a lot of time with dad and I. I wish it had been less. I can't wait for my patients to see my smile again. To see my fiancé again. To give my parents a proper send off. To find love. I can't wait to see my patients again in person. I can't wait to go salsa dancing. No. I can't wait for you to meet my mom. Go to the gym. Spin class! Dance on stage. Play my piano for my friends. Just hug your friend or... To hug my students. To give high fives to our patients. I really hope that this vaccine can get me one step closer to him. For a huge wedding. One step closer to being...better people. With every vaccine CVS is working to bring you one step closer to a better tomorrow.
With every COVID-19 vaccination administered, we get one step closer to a better tomorrow. Share your #OneStepCloser story on social media.
One Step Closer
I cannot wait to live freely...with no fear. It's been tough, but you've got a lot of time with dad and I. I wish it had been less. I can't wait for my patients to see my smile again. To see my fiancé again. To give my parents a proper send off. To find love. I can't wait to see my patients again in person. I can't wait to go salsa dancing. No. I can't wait for you to meet my mom. Go to the gym. Spin class! Dance on stage. Play my piano for my friends. Just hug your friend or... To hug my students. To give high fives to our patients. I really hope that this vaccine can get me one step closer to him. For a huge wedding. One step closer to being...better people. With every vaccine CVS is working to bring you one step closer to a better tomorrow.
With every COVID-19 vaccination administered, we get one step closer to a better tomorrow. Share your #OneStepCloser story on social media.
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 about safety and side effects of 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 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? The most common side effects that people experience after getting the vaccine is some injection-site pain, so where the needle was injected into your arm, you may experience some soreness for about a day after you've received the COVID-19 vaccine. The number of other individuals might experience low grade fevers, chills, body aches, pains. But again, these usually resolve after about 24, maybe 48 hours with no intervention, just a matter of time.
If it's a two dose vaccine like Pfizer and Moderna, people are more likely to experience, or may have more of those side effects after the second dose. But, again, they tend to resolve after 24 to 48 hours.
So in terms of long-term side effects, we still don't know if there are any long-term side effects from the currently authorized vaccines. However, we don't really think that there will be any significant long-term side effects. We're continuously monitoring to make sure, and tracking data regarding long-term and short-term side effects. The overall profile of these vaccines look incredibly safe and if you do experience any side effects they're usually manageable with just a matter of time of 24 to 48 hours.
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. It’s also known as VAERS. The VAERS system allows us as vaccinator, 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 V-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 health care 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 the 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, you'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 about safety and side effects of 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 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? The most common side effects that people experience after getting the vaccine is some injection-site pain, so where the needle was injected into your arm, you may experience some soreness for about a day after you've received the COVID-19 vaccine. The number of other individuals might experience low grade fevers, chills, body aches, pains. But again, these usually resolve after about 24, maybe 48 hours with no intervention, just a matter of time.
If it's a two dose vaccine like Pfizer and Moderna, people are more likely to experience, or may have more of those side effects after the second dose. But, again, they tend to resolve after 24 to 48 hours.
So in terms of long-term side effects, we still don't know if there are any long-term side effects from the currently authorized vaccines. However, we don't really think that there will be any significant long-term side effects. We're continuously monitoring to make sure, and tracking data regarding long-term and short-term side effects. The overall profile of these vaccines look incredibly safe and if you do experience any side effects they're usually manageable with just a matter of time of 24 to 48 hours.
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. It’s also known as VAERS. The VAERS system allows us as vaccinator, 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 V-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 health care 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 the 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, you'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 three currently FDA-authorized vaccines equally effective?
Are the three currently FDA-authorized vaccines equally effective? There's lots of ways to look at effectiveness data. And the way that effectiveness data has been presented today has been, what is the effectiveness of these vaccines in preventing moderate to severe COVID-19? And when we look at effectiveness data along that one specific measure, what we see is that Pfizer and Moderna have 94 to 95 percent effectiveness, Johnson & Johnson has 66 percent effectiveness. But I want to talk about why it's really difficult to compare different vaccines' effectiveness; and also there are some really compelling information about the impact that these vaccines have on hospitalizations and death.
So why is it hard to compare vaccine effectiveness? These vaccines have been studied at different times and in different places across the globe. And so given that they are studied at different times, as the coronavirus has evolved and we now have some mutations that we call variants or variants of concern, we see different efficacy as we see trials that have been conducted later than earlier on the pandemic. So Johnson & Johnson was conducting their trial a little bit later than Pfizer and Moderna, and in different parts of the world, and had a slightly lower effectiveness on severe and moderate COVID-19.
However, when we compare hospitalizations and death, and if we think about what we want from our vaccines, which is to prevent us from getting so sick that we need to go to the hospital or so sick that we die, there is incredible equivalence across all of these vaccines. They're all 99 percent or higher in effectiveness in preventing hospitalizations and death. So on that measure, what I would say is one of the most important measures of vaccine effectiveness, the three currently authorized vaccines are equivalent in terms of effectiveness in preventing hospitalizations and death.
Can I choose which vaccine I receive?
Can I choose which vaccine to get? When we look at the three currently authorized vaccines, they're all incredibly effective at preventing hospitalizations and deaths. So there really is no reason to have to choose. If you have questions, you can talk to your provider, but given the relative equivalence of all of these vaccines, whichever vaccine you can get is the right vaccine for you.
What happens if I’m late getting my second dose? What if I skip the second dose?
Specific to Pfizer and Moderna, there are questions about, "What happens if I skip the second dose, or if I miss the second dose, what should I do?" So let's talk through that. With both Pfizer and Moderna, they are two dose vaccines. With Pfizer, the second dose is 21 days after the first dose. With Moderna, it's 28 days after your first dose. And when you schedule your appointments, you'll be scheduled for the appropriate time from first dose to second dose, but we all know that sometimes life gets in the way and you can't make that second appointment.
If you miss that second dose, it's okay. It's just important to get that second dose whenever you can. The full efficacy that you will have from the vaccine occurs approximately two weeks after you get that second dose, so just make sure to schedule that second appointment and get that second dose if you happen to miss it. You will not get the full protection of the vaccine if you only get one dose. So it's really important to get that second dose. So again, life gets in the way, things happen, but don't worry, just schedule when you can and get that second dose to get the full protection of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.
I’m vaccinated, how long until the vaccine takes effect?
How long before the vaccine takes effect? So Pfizer and Moderna are two dose vaccines. Johnson & Johnson is a one dose vaccine. You can consider yourself fully vaccinated after Pfizer and Moderna if you've received two doses and two weeks after that second dose. With Johnson & Johnson, you can be considered fully vaccinated two weeks after getting your Johnson & Johnson dose. So remember, to be considered fully vaccinated, you need to complete the series of vaccinations. So for Pfizer and Moderna, it's two doses and you have to wait two weeks. With Johnson & Johnson, it's one dose and then wait two weeks and you're considered fully vaccinated.
Will the vaccines be effective on the new strains of COVID-19?
Will the vaccines be effective against these new COVID-19 variants? We've been hearing a lot about these new mutations and new strains of COVID-19. In the currently authorized vaccines, when we look in the laboratory, they generally appear to have efficacy against these new strains. They also can be updated quickly, and many of the manufacturers are working on new versions of the COVID-19 vaccine to be able to have efficacy against new strains in case they do see decreased efficacy. What's important for us to recognize is that COVID-19 will continue to evolve, but we can also evolve our vaccines to meet this ever-changing challenge.
And all of these vaccines have significant impact on reducing hospitalizations and death. And so, again, yes, we're concerned about these variants and these strains, but I'm reassured that we have the ability to update our vaccines and all of these vaccines have significant impact in reducing hospitalizations and death.
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 three 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 three currently FDA-authorized vaccines equally effective?
Are the three currently FDA-authorized vaccines equally effective? There's lots of ways to look at effectiveness data. And the way that effectiveness data has been presented today has been, what is the effectiveness of these vaccines in preventing moderate to severe COVID-19? And when we look at effectiveness data along that one specific measure, what we see is that Pfizer and Moderna have 94 to 95 percent effectiveness, Johnson & Johnson has 66 percent effectiveness. But I want to talk about why it's really difficult to compare different vaccines' effectiveness; and also there are some really compelling information about the impact that these vaccines have on hospitalizations and death.
So why is it hard to compare vaccine effectiveness? These vaccines have been studied at different times and in different places across the globe. And so given that they are studied at different times, as the coronavirus has evolved and we now have some mutations that we call variants or variants of concern, we see different efficacy as we see trials that have been conducted later than earlier on the pandemic. So Johnson & Johnson was conducting their trial a little bit later than Pfizer and Moderna, and in different parts of the world, and had a slightly lower effectiveness on severe and moderate COVID-19.
However, when we compare hospitalizations and death, and if we think about what we want from our vaccines, which is to prevent us from getting so sick that we need to go to the hospital or so sick that we die, there is incredible equivalence across all of these vaccines. They're all 99 percent or higher in effectiveness in preventing hospitalizations and death. So on that measure, what I would say is one of the most important measures of vaccine effectiveness, the three currently authorized vaccines are equivalent in terms of effectiveness in preventing hospitalizations and death.
Can I choose which vaccine I receive?
Can I choose which vaccine to get? When we look at the three currently authorized vaccines, they're all incredibly effective at preventing hospitalizations and deaths. So there really is no reason to have to choose. If you have questions, you can talk to your provider, but given the relative equivalence of all of these vaccines, whichever vaccine you can get is the right vaccine for you.
What happens if I’m late getting my second dose? What if I skip the second dose?
Specific to Pfizer and Moderna, there are questions about, "What happens if I skip the second dose, or if I miss the second dose, what should I do?" So let's talk through that. With both Pfizer and Moderna, they are two dose vaccines. With Pfizer, the second dose is 21 days after the first dose. With Moderna, it's 28 days after your first dose. And when you schedule your appointments, you'll be scheduled for the appropriate time from first dose to second dose, but we all know that sometimes life gets in the way and you can't make that second appointment.
If you miss that second dose, it's okay. It's just important to get that second dose whenever you can. The full efficacy that you will have from the vaccine occurs approximately two weeks after you get that second dose, so just make sure to schedule that second appointment and get that second dose if you happen to miss it. You will not get the full protection of the vaccine if you only get one dose. So it's really important to get that second dose. So again, life gets in the way, things happen, but don't worry, just schedule when you can and get that second dose to get the full protection of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.
I’m vaccinated, how long until the vaccine takes effect?
How long before the vaccine takes effect? So Pfizer and Moderna are two dose vaccines. Johnson & Johnson is a one dose vaccine. You can consider yourself fully vaccinated after Pfizer and Moderna if you've received two doses and two weeks after that second dose. With Johnson & Johnson, you can be considered fully vaccinated two weeks after getting your Johnson & Johnson dose. So remember, to be considered fully vaccinated, you need to complete the series of vaccinations. So for Pfizer and Moderna, it's two doses and you have to wait two weeks. With Johnson & Johnson, it's one dose and then wait two weeks and you're considered fully vaccinated.
Will the vaccines be effective on the new strains of COVID-19?
Will the vaccines be effective against these new COVID-19 variants? We've been hearing a lot about these new mutations and new strains of COVID-19. In the currently authorized vaccines, when we look in the laboratory, they generally appear to have efficacy against these new strains. They also can be updated quickly, and many of the manufacturers are working on new versions of the COVID-19 vaccine to be able to have efficacy against new strains in case they do see decreased efficacy. What's important for us to recognize is that COVID-19 will continue to evolve, but we can also evolve our vaccines to meet this ever-changing challenge.
And all of these vaccines have significant impact on reducing hospitalizations and death. And so, again, yes, we're concerned about these variants and these strains, but I'm reassured that we have the ability to update our vaccines and all of these vaccines have significant impact in reducing hospitalizations and death.
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 three 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. But 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 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, it’s 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 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 need to no longer 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.
Do you need to get the COVID 19 vaccine if you're under the age of 65 and you're healthy and have no underlying conditions? The answer is yes. Getting the COVID-19 vaccine prevents you from getting moderate to severe COVID-19, prevents you from getting hospitalized or even potentially dying from COVID-19. Getting the vaccine protects you and it protects those around you. So even if you're young and healthy, it is imperative to get the COVID-19 vaccine to protect you and those around you.
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.
MYTH: The J&J vaccine is less effective at preventing COVID-19.
Is the Johnson and Johnson vaccine less effective at preventing COVID-19? In trials, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine had a 66 percent effectiveness at preventing moderate and severe COVID-19. However, it was 100 percent effective at preventing hospitalizations and death from COVID-19. And those are incredibly important facts for us to remember as we think about Johnson & Johnson's vaccine compared to Pfizer Moderna. Any one of these three vaccines will protect you against COVID-19, and Johnson & Johnson's vaccine is 100 percent effective at preventing hospitalization and death.
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. But 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 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, it’s 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 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 need to no longer 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.
Do you need to get the COVID 19 vaccine if you're under the age of 65 and you're healthy and have no underlying conditions? The answer is yes. Getting the COVID-19 vaccine prevents you from getting moderate to severe COVID-19, prevents you from getting hospitalized or even potentially dying from COVID-19. Getting the vaccine protects you and it protects those around you. So even if you're young and healthy, it is imperative to get the COVID-19 vaccine to protect you and those around you.
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.
MYTH: The J&J vaccine is less effective at preventing COVID-19.
Is the Johnson and Johnson vaccine less effective at preventing COVID-19? In trials, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine had a 66 percent effectiveness at preventing moderate and severe COVID-19. However, it was 100 percent effective at preventing hospitalizations and death from COVID-19. And those are incredibly important facts for us to remember as we think about Johnson & Johnson's vaccine compared to Pfizer Moderna. Any one of these three vaccines will protect you against COVID-19, and Johnson & Johnson's vaccine is 100 percent effective at preventing hospitalization and death.
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?
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 the 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 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 will it 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 authority’s 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, 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 Federal Government program, to ensure that 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? As a parent, I know this is a question that I'm asking myself. If we look at the current authorized vaccines, they are approved for Pfizer 16 and over and for Moderna and Johnson & Johnson for 18 and over. There are currently a number of studies that are underway to look at the efficacy of the vaccines in children. We don't have that data yet. We expect that data to come through over the course of the year of 2021 or in early 2022. And so over time we expect vaccines to become authorized for children. But at this time there are no currently authorized vaccines for children under the age of 16.
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 until 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 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 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 check 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?
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 the 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 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 will it 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 authority’s 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, 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 Federal Government program, to ensure that 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? As a parent, I know this is a question that I'm asking myself. If we look at the current authorized vaccines, they are approved for Pfizer 16 and over and for Moderna and Johnson & Johnson for 18 and over. There are currently a number of studies that are underway to look at the efficacy of the vaccines in children. We don't have that data yet. We expect that data to come through over the course of the year of 2021 or in early 2022. And so over time we expect vaccines to become authorized for children. But at this time there are no currently authorized vaccines for children under the age of 16.
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 until 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 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 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 check 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:
Visit the Help Center for answers to commonly asked questions about the COVID-19 vaccine.
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.
