CVS set to administer vaccines to long-term care facilities

Set to start in Rhode Island on December 28

WOONSOCKET, R.I (WLNE) – CVS formally launched its COVID-19 vaccination program for long-term care facilities on Monday.

The program is aimed towards facilities whose residents have been disproportionality impacted by the pandemic.

CVS Pharmacy teams are going to administer the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine across 12 states during the week, and expect to vaccinate up to four million residents and staff.

“Today’s rollout is the culmination of months of internal planning and demonstrates how the private sector can use its expertise to help solve some of our most critical challenges,” said Larry J. Merlo, President, and Chief Executive Officer, CVS Health.

“I’m grateful for the herculean efforts of everyone involved, including our health care professionals who will be deployed throughout the country to bring peace of mind to long-term care facility residents, staff, and their loved ones”, he continued.

Vaccines are going to be administered in the following states: Connecticut, Florida, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Nevada, New Hampshire New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, and Vermont.

Administering the vaccine in Rhode Island is set to being on December 28.

Puerto Rico will activate on January 4, according to CVS.

CVS says the vaccination effort is a precursor to the eventual availability of vaccines at all locations across the United States.

“Vaccinating one of our most vulnerable populations is the latest milestone in our multifaceted pandemic response, which includes testing more than 10 million people for the virus since March,” stated Karen S. Lynch, currently Executive Vice President, CVS Health and President, Aetna, who will become the company’s next President and CEO on February 1.

“The eventual availability of COVID-19 vaccines in communities across the country will bring us one step closer to overcoming the most significant health challenge of our lifetime”, she said,

 More information on steps CVS Health has taken to address the pandemic can be found online at the COVID-19 resource center.