CVS/pharmacy and MinuteClinic expand H1N1 vaccine outreach effort

CVS/pharmacy, the nation's leading retail pharmacy, and MinuteClinic, the largest retail health care provider in the U.S., announced today an expanded H1N1 vaccine outreach effort. The H1N1 vaccine is expected to be widely available in locations from coast to coast beginning as soon as this week from supplies distributed by public health authorities.

"We are stepping up our national efforts to provide H1N1 vaccines in our thousands of CVS/pharmacy and MinuteClinic communities so that our customers and their families can remain healthy during this flu season," 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."

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

H1N1 vaccine is currently being offered at:

• Select CVS/pharmacy locations in Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Missouri, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Texas and the District of Columbia.

• MinuteClinic locations in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.

New locations will be added shortly.

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.

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 Corporation