The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are partnering with pharmacies to increase access to COVID-19 vaccine once approved for use within the United States. There are two federal pharmacy programs that will support this distribution effort: the Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term Care Program and the Federal Retail Pharmacy Partnership Strategy for COVID-19 Vaccination.

CDC has released an updated two-page fact sheet detailing the Federal Retail Pharmacy Partnership Strategy for COVID-19 Vaccination. The fact sheet provides an updated list of the pharmacy partners that have signed on to be apart of the partnership program, as well as includes specifics regarding program activation and implementation. Through the Federal Retail Pharmacy Partnership Strategy for COVID-19 Vaccination, retail pharmacy partners can help jurisdictions augment access to vaccine when supply increases and vaccine is recommended beyond the initial populations. The program activation will be on a national scale with pharmacy partners receiving a direct allocation of COVID-19 vaccine. As CDC continues to coordinate a rollout that will maximize coverage within each jurisdiction, it is important to note that the timing and scale of activation will depend on various factors, including supply.

View the two-page fact sheet for additional information regarding the Federal Retail Pharmacy Partnership Strategy for COVID-19 Vaccination.