The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) announced Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021 that additional pharmacy networks are beginning to administer COVID-19 vaccines to those age 65 and older as part of a federal partnership that will bring an additional 52,000 vaccines into Virginia this week.
In addition to CVS Pharmacy Inc., which began receiving approximately 26,000 vaccine doses last week through the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program for COVID-19 Vaccination, the newly added pharmacies include Walgreens, Walmart Inc., The Kroger Co., Albertsons Companies Inc. (Safeway), Retail Business Services LLC (Food Lion, Giant Food), Topco Associates LLC (Food City), and CPESN LLC, a network of multiple independent community pharmacies. These pharmacy networks will share the additional 26,000 doses. Similar doses are expected in the following weeks.
The Federal Retail Pharmacy Program for COVID-19 Vaccination is a public-private partnership in which the pharmacy companies receive vaccines directly from the federal government to vaccinate priority groups at no cost. Vaccinations are by appointment only.
VDH is working with eligible pharmacies to schedule appointments using Virginia's centralized pre-registration system, as possible. Beginning this week, the Vaccinate Virginia call center is making calls to individuals on the pre-registration list to schedule appointments for Walmart and Giant vaccination events, while other pharmacies have agreed to use pre-registered individuals to schedule their own appointments.
The vaccines will be distributed to approximately 140 locations across Virginia. VDH will work with these pharmacies to determine which locations will receive vaccinations each week in an effort to focus on high-risk and vulnerable communities. While most will administer vaccinations in their stores, Walmart will hold off-site mass clinics in rotating areas of the state.
The 52,000 doses from the federal partnership are in addition to the approximately 160,000 Virginia received this week to be distributed through local health departments and other providers.
To pre-register, visit vaccinate.virginia.gov or call 877-VAX-IN-VA (TTY users dial 7-1-1). To register for an appointment at a CVS pharmacy, visit https://www.cvs.com/immunizations/covid-19-vaccine.