COVID-19 Response

A healthcare worker giving a test to a person in a car.

HHS decision authorizes pharmacy techs, interns to provide vaccines, COVID-19 tests

The Department of Health and Human Services has authorized qualified pharmacy technicians and state-authorized pharmacy interns to administer childhood vaccines, COVID-19 vaccines when made available, and COVID-19 tests.

Walgreens expands eligibility age for COVID-19 testing

The company now is offering COVID-19 tests for those 3 years old and older, expanding from its previous testing age cutoff of 18 years old and older.

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Gilead’s Veklury becomes first treatment approved for COVID-19

Gilead Sciences' Veklury has been approved to treat hospitalized patients with COVID-19 who are 12 years old and older.

NACDS praises Meijer pharmacist for touting flu shots at Chamber of Commerce event

Heather Schultz, a Meijer pharmacist, highlighted the importance of flu vaccines during a U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation event.

Walgreens, CVS Health to provide COVID-19 vaccine to long-term care facilities

As part of the White House's Operation Warp Speed, the two retailers will be supplying long-term care facilities' residents and staff, as well as other vulnerable groups, with the COVID-19 vaccine once it is approved and available.

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FDA gives Emergency Use Authorization for Abbott's COVID-19 IgM antibody blood test

Abbott’s new antibody blood test has shown highly reliable test results with 99.56% specificity and 95% sensitivity for patients tested 15 days after COVID-19 symptom onset.

Hy-Vee Pharmacy expands free COVID-19 testing to more than 150 locations

Hy-Vee's expanded testing builds on its earlier testing efforts rolled out to 11 locations in August.

HHS assistant secretary for health gets flu vaccine at Harris Teeter

The Department of Health and Human Services’ assistant secretary for health, Admiral Brett Giroir, received his flu vaccination at a Harris Teeter pharmacy and stressed the importance of getting a flu shot amid the pandemic.

A healthcare worker putting a bandaid on person's arm.

CVS Pharmacy supports flu shots for Shipt shoppers

Shipt Shoppers can obtain an online voucher for a free flu shot at any of the nearly 10,000 CVS Pharmacy locations nationwide, including CVS Pharmacy inside Target.

Rite Aid celebrates front-line pharmacy heroes

Rite Aid is rebranding its Pharmacy Champions program as Pharmacy Heroes in order to acknowledge the service provided by its pharmacy staff in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

APhA, Washington State University launch program to prepare pharmacists for pediatric immunizations

The new program is aimed at preparing state-licensed immunizing pharmacists to meet the education requirements to administer vaccinations to children age 3 to 18 years old.

Hy-Vee pharmacies offer childhood vaccinations, flu shots

Childhood vaccinations now are available at more than 270 Hy-Vee pharmacy locations in eight states.

Health officials prepare to distribute COVID-19 vaccine within 24 hours of FDA nod

The administration plans to use McKesson as its main distributor for a COVID-19 vaccine, which will be transported to distribution sites within 24 hours after the FDA grants an EU or approval.

Rite Aid’s testing site count surpasses 300

The new sites in eight states bring the retailer’s total sites — which offer free testing in partnership with the Department of Health and Human Services — to 303.