Two major drugstore companies announced that the updated COVID vaccines were already available at retail locations shortly after the green light was given by both the CDC and the FDA. “Pharmacies will begin receiving the new vaccine today and will continue to receive inventory on a rolling basis throughout the week,” CVS announced in a Sept. 13 press release. “All CVS Pharmacy locations are expected to have the vaccine in stock by early next week.”
Appointments and walk-ins would be accepted as “individual locations receive the vaccines,” according to the CVS release. Walgreens, on the other hand, announced it was “offering updated COVID-19 vaccine appointments” a day earlier, in a Sept. 12 press release.
“With FDA and CDC approval of the new vaccines targeting newer coronavirus variants, Walgreens is ready to provide critical access to COVID-19 vaccines for all eligible individuals,” the company said in its release. “Individuals will be able to schedule an appointment immediately, with available appointments beginning on Monday, September 18, across the country. Earlier appointments may be added on a rolling basis as stores receive vaccines this week.”
Despite the quick announcements from CVS and Walgreens, some customers who were looking to get the vaccine from either company have run into problems with availability. “Thought I was in the clear for my COVID vaccine today, but it turns out CVS just waited 45 minutes before the appointment to cancel it,” wrote one X user on September 23. Another wrote on Sept. 21: “Ugh have had CVS cancel my vax appt TWICE already bc they don’t have COVID shot available yet. This is ridiculous.”
But representatives from both Moderna and Pfizer told the AP they’re not experiencing supply problems for their updated shots. A Pfizer spokesperson said the company is not experiencing any shortages and has “shipped and delivered several million doses of its 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine.” Meanwhile, the company had six million doses of its new shots available as of Sept. 21, Moderna vice president of communications Chris Ridley told the AP.
