CVS Caremark to provide H1N1 flu vaccinations at selected locations

CVS Caremark announced today that it will provide H1N1 flu vaccinations at select CVS/pharmacy locations in the States of Alabama, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, Pennsylvania and New York as well at MinuteClinic locations in Massachusetts and Connecticut beginning Thursday, December 31.

Public health officials are now encouraging everyone to get an H1N1 flu vaccine. The eight states are among many that have lifted priority group restrictions, allowing all patients to be eligible to receive the shot while supplies last.

"Our customers depend on CVS/pharmacy and MinuteClinic for their health care needs, so we are pleased to be able to expand H1N1 vaccine availability to these additional states," said Troyen A. Brennan, M.D., Chief Medical Officer, CVS Caremark. "H1N1 flu is currently active in many communities across the country and it is likely that we will see increased flu activity, as is typically the case, in January and February."

Patients who are most at risk for contracting H1N1 and for complications resulting from the flu include pregnant women, individuals 6 months through 24 years of age, household contacts and caregivers for children younger than 6 months of age, health care and emergency medical services personnel, and persons aged 25 through 64 who have health conditions that are associated with higher risk of medical complications from influenza such as asthma and diabetes.

CVS Caremark continues to expand the availability of H1N1 vaccine in its stores and retail health clinics across the country. The vaccine is now available in 28 states and Washington, DC at either CVS/pharmacy or at MinuteClinic.

H1N1 vaccine is being offered at:

• Select CVS/pharmacy locations in Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii (Longs Drugs stores), Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Virginia and the District of Columbia.
• MinuteClinic locations in Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and the District of Columbia.

Information on H1N1 vaccine supply at CVS/pharmacy can be found at www.cvs.com and at MinuteClinic at www.minuteclinic.com. Vaccine availability is updated daily. The cost of the H1N1 flu vaccination shot at CVS/pharmacy and MinuteClinic is a $15 administration fee, which may be covered by insurance.

SOURCE CVS Caremark