COVID-19 vaccines come to CVS in Naples, but first appointments are already filled

CVS Pharmacy in Naples is now offering vaccines for COVID-19, but the first set of appointments were quickly booked Wednesday, according to the company.

The CVS website does not indicate which store or stores are offering the shots, only the city where they're available and whether or not they have available openings. No stores in Lee or Charlotte counties were on the list.

As of midday Wednesday, CVS had multiple available slots in the Miami area, Belle Glade, Doral, Hialeah, Homestead and Pensacola.

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Tuesday that 81 CVS Pharmacies statewide will offer the vaccine. 

More:Teachers, firefighters, police next to get vaccinated in Florida, Gov. DeSantis says

“I’m pleased to join CVS Health today to announce 81 additional COVID-19 vaccination sites across our state, including 67 in Miami-Dade County,” said DeSantis at a Navarro Discount Pharmacy location in Hialeah. “These sites at select CVS Health locations will build on the progress we’ve made at existing retail sites and significantly increase access to the vaccine for our seniors.”

The vaccine is offered at no cost with insurance or through the federal program for the uninsured, according to the CVS site. In order to offer the vaccine, CVS Health has partnered with several local, state and federal programs. 

Appointments will be available as CVS receives vaccines from the state and federal programs. Those who qualify for the vaccine at CVS stores are people ages 65 and older, and health-care and EMS workers. 

“One of our greatest strengths as a company is our presence in communities across the country, which makes us an ideal partner for administering vaccines in a safe, convenient and inclusive manner,” said Ahmed Velez, region director, CVS Health, in the press release. “We look forward to continuing to work with the state to defeat the virus and deliver on our shared commitment to increase access to the vaccine for underserved communities, in particular Florida’s Black and Hispanic populations.”

CVS is also offering vaccines in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas and Virginia. 

More:Naples' upscale Pelican Bay community gets private COVID-19 vaccine clinic

More:Black churches aim to tackle vaccine disparity among minorities with federal help

To check availability and register for an appointment, visit cvs.com/immunizations/covid-19-vaccine. Patients must register in advance at CVS.com or through the CVS Pharmacy app, and people without online access can contact CVS customer service at 800-746-7287. Walk-in vaccinations without an appointment will not be provided.

As more supply becomes available, CVS Health will expand vaccine access through an increasing number of store locations in additional Florida counties, according to the release. 

More than 2.7 million Floridians have been vaccinated to date, according to the state's Department of Health. That includes nearly 73,000 people in Collier County and more than 105,000 in Lee County, according to the department.

Frequently asked questions (and answers) provided by CVS 

Who is administering the vaccines? Pharmacists? Pharmacy technicians? Other health-care providers? 

CVS Health immunizers include pharmacists, pharmacy interns and trained pharmacy technicians, as well as other qualified health-care professionals depending on each state’s specific regulations. All CVS Health immunizers are certified according to company requirements, trained in the administration of immunizations, and hold an active CPR certification.

What processes are in place to manage and ensure appropriate administration of the two-dose COVID-19 vaccine?

When patients make an appointment for their initial shot online or through the CVS app, they are prompted to schedule an appointment for their second dose at the same time. The second dose is scheduled within the appropriate timeframe, allowing enough time for a potential reschedule of the appointment, if needed. CVS Health has implemented a detailed tracking system to make sure we know who received which vaccine and to help ensure they get the second dose of the same vaccine. Upon receiving their first dose, patients are provided with a vaccine card with all relevant vaccination information. Detailed reporting will be shared with state, local or territorial public health authorities. 

Can patients choose which COVID-19 vaccine they receive at CVS Pharmacy?

At this time, our select CVS Pharmacy locations that are currently offering the COVID-19 vaccine to eligible populations have either the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine, not both. As we are able to expand the number of pharmacies offering the vaccine in the coming months, patients will be able to see which pharmacies offer which vaccine as part of the digital scheduling experience on CVS.com prior to making an appointment.

How is CVS Health verifying patient eligibility to receive the COVID-19 vaccine? 

As part of the scheduling process on CVS.com, patients are asked to attest that all information provided during appointment set up is truthful and accurate. Some states will also require the collection of IDs to verify eligibility and we are complying with that requirement. We reserve the right to cancel appointments if it is determined that information provided for establishing eligibility is not truthful.

Will you be able to walk into any CVS Pharmacy and get a COVID-19 vaccine or will an appointment be required? 

Once we are able to begin vaccinating the general public and vaccines are widely available at CVS Pharmacy locations, an appointment will be required to receive a vaccination. Customers will be able to easily schedule their vaccinations — both the initial shot and the required second dose — at CVS.com or through the CVS app. Anyone requiring assistance with the scheduling tool or without access to a computer or mobile device will be encouraged to contact CVS Customer Service.

How is CVS Health prepared to deal with possible allergic reactions to the vaccine? 

CVS Health immunizers are trained in the safe administration of the COVID-19 vaccines authorized for use by the FDA, including identifying and treating allergic reactions. The vaccination procedures include a patient screening checklist to assess the risk of reaction. All patients are monitored for 15 minutes after administration of the injection, or longer for people with a history of severe allergic reactions. Our immunizers are equipped with appropriate medications, such as epinephrine and antihistamines.

All of the appointment slots are booked. When will more be available?

We understand making an appointment to receive a COVID-19 vaccine can be a frustrating experience, given the limited number of vaccines that have been allotted to CVS Health by the state and federal governments. In most (if not all) states, the number of individuals who are eligible to receive the vaccine under the state’s rules far outnumber the state’s available doses. As we receive additional shipments of vaccines, more appointments will open up on CVS.com, so we encourage you to continue to check for an open appointment at a CVS Pharmacy in your area.