RICHMOND, Va. -- Additional pharmacy networks will begin to administer COVID-19 vaccines to people 65 and older as part of a federal partnership that will bring 52,000 more vaccines into the Virginia this week, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) announced Wednesday.
The newly added pharmacies include Walgreens, Walmart, Kroger, 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.
CVS Pharmacy began receiving approximately 26,000 vaccine doses last week through the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program for COVID-19 Vaccination.
The newly added pharmacies will share the additional 26,000 doses. Similar doses are expected in the following weeks, according to the VDH.
The vaccines will be distributed to approximately 140 locations across Virginia.
"Not all of the locations for each of these companies will be receiving vaccines," Northam said at a Tuesday press conference. "Locations are decided by the companies in consultation with our Virginia Department of Health to focus these efforts on high risk and vulnerable communities."
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.
The VDH said they are working with eligible pharmacies to schedule appointments using Virginia’s centralized pre-registration system.
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 most of the pharmacies will administer vaccinations in their stores, Walmart will hold off-site mass clinics across 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, click here.