H1N1 flu vaccine now available at CVS/pharmacy locations throughout California

CVS/pharmacy announced today that it has expanded the availability of H1N1 flu vaccine to more than 220 stores throughout the State of California. The vaccine is now available at select CVS/pharmacy locations in the following counties in southern, central and northern California:

Public health officials are encouraging everyone to get an H1N1 flu vaccine, allowing all patients to be eligible to receive the shot while supplies last.

"We are pleased to be able to expand H1N1 vaccine availability to more CVS/pharmacy locations in California," said Troyen A. Brennan, M.D., Chief Medical Officer, CVS Caremark. "H1N1 flu is currently active in many communities 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.

H1N1 flu vaccine is available from coast to coast in 28 states and Washington, DC at either CVS/pharmacy or at MinuteClinic, the retail health clinic subsidiary of CVS Caremark. The vaccine is currently 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.