• CVS and Walgreens said updated Covid boosters should be available this week
  • The announcement comes a day after approval of new boosters 
  • READ MORE: FDA approves new Covid boosters made by Pfizer and Moderna

Drug store chains CVS Health and Walgreens will carry updated Covid-19 vaccines as soon as this week, the chains announced Wednesday. 

The news comes after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) approved new updated vaccines Tuesday to tackle the new Eris and BA.2.86 variants, which have caused an uptick in Covid cases and hospitalizations. 

Walgreens said it would start taking appointments for the updated vaccines this coming Monday but could begin earlier appointments as stores receive vaccines this week.

Rite Aid (RAD.N) said appointments would be live on Friday, while CVS said some pharmacies would begin receiving the new vaccines on Wednesday, with all pharmacy locations expected to have vaccinations in stock by early next week. 

VS Health and Walgreens should carry updated Covid-19 vaccines as soon as this week, the chains announced Wednesday

VS Health and Walgreens should carry updated Covid-19 vaccines as soon as this week, the chains announced Wednesday

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved an updated vaccine made by Pfizer (PFE.N) and its German partner BioNTech (22UAy.DE) as well as one by Moderna (MRNA.O) for people ages 12 and above. The agency has also authorized the shots for emergency use in children ages 6 months through 11 years.

The goal of the updated shots is to target new variants, much like annual flu shots.

Retail chain Walmart (WMT.N) did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The U.S. government ended the COVID public health emergency declaration in May and handed over the responsibility for vaccinations to the private sector. Demand for the vaccines has dropped sharply since.

COVID shots will still be free for most Americans with health insurance coverage and the government has said it is working on a program to provide the vaccines for free to people without insurance. 

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Post source: Daily mail