CVS Health, Walgreens pharmacies to roll out COVID-19 vaccines in Massachusetts

In Massachusetts, the Baker-Polito administration announced that at least 15 CVS Health and Walgreens locations will receive a total of 10,000 COVID-19 vaccines to administer this week. These locations will be in areas across the state with less access to convenient vaccination facilities. Eligible residents in Phase 1-eligible priority groups can now view sites and book an appointment. Some 40 vaccination sites will be added the week of January 25 through current partners and collaboration with additional partners, including Wegmans, Big Y, Price Chopper, Stop & Shop, and Hannaford. The Baker-Polito administration is also launching the Hospital Depot Initiative for independent physician practices prioritized under Phase 1. The Massachusetts COVID-19 Command Center and Department of Public Health, in collaboration with the Massachusetts Medical Society and Mass General Brigham, is managing this initiative starting with COVID-facing health care workers. For clinical practices that lack staff or storage capacity to handle larger, direct allocations of vaccine doses, a depot hospital will receive the doses on their behalf and redistribute vaccine and all ancillary materials for office-based vaccination. In some cases, the hospital will provide direct vaccination to health care workers. The Massachusetts Medical Society is overseeing communications and coordination with physician practices.