• The 21 partners include CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, Costco, PSAOs for all three major drug wholesalers (ABDC, Cardinal and McKesson), CPESN and all major grocery chains (including HEB and others in Texas).
• Though some partners -- such as CVS, Walgreens and Walmart -– will participate in virtually all targeted states, the CDC divided the states/territories among the major wholesalers & CPESN (wholesalers did not get to pick their states):
• ABDC/GNP was assigned Texas, Kentucky, Nebraska, Guam and Kansas (KS will be shared by all wholesalers).
• Texas isn’t being shared by another wholesaler, though CVS, Walgreens, HEB, Walmart, etc. also will receive vaccine in Texas under the program.
• CPESN was assigned Indiana, Kansas & Oklahoma.
• McKesson was assigned Missouri, Oregon & Washington state, plus Kansas (everyone shares KS).
• Cardinal was assigned 9 states: GNP did not list them all, but said they include Michigan, Mississippi and Nebraska, plus Kansas.

• The CDC established “heat zones” in states and local jurisdictions, representing high concentrations of vulnerable populations that are underserved by current vaccination efforts.
• ABDC/GNP worked with the CDC to establish the initial list of GNP/Elevate pharmacies in these heat zones. ABDC identified eligible pharmacies, but CDC made the final determination.
• Not all eligible GNP/Elevate pharmacies in Texas were selected for the program. Some have not completed all the requirements to enroll as vaccinators with GNP.
• Because of supply constraints, not all eligible pharmacies were selected for the week 1 distribution. All selected pharmacies will eventually receive vaccine as supplies improve.
• ABDC says the CDC sets the timeline for expanding the Phase I program to more pharmacies, and that the agency has not released a timeline at this point.
• ABDC stresses that any vaccine-ready pharmacy not selected for the new Phase I program is still included in the planned Phase II distribution.

• Must be located in an area targeted by the CDC as a heat zone.
• Must have completed all GNP vaccine registration requirements, including CDC training through GNP University and registration for Vaccine Finder (See this GNP newsletter for a full list of all registration requirements).
• Must be signed up with the state vaccine registry.
• Must not be receiving, or signed up to receive, vaccine from a competing federal distribution partner. This primarily applies to CPESN and GeriMed, as some APRx members are both GNP members and enrolled in CPESN or GeriMed. The CDC will flag any doubly registered pharmacy it identifies and notify GNP. A GNP pharmacy signed up to receive vaccine through CPESN or GeriMed must cancel that registration if it wants to be eligible to receive vaccine through GNP. You cannot participate with more than one federal partner.
• Must have GNP Premiere or Elevate Advanced services – ABC has taken heat for this requirement, but says that GNP Premiere or Elevate Advanced is necessary for pharmacies to do the extensive vaccine reporting the CDC requires.
• ABC says it understands the frustration of APRx members who are ready to vaccinate and were not among the 26 in Texas selected to get a Week 1 shipment, but that its initial allocation was very limited.

• As mentioned before, the initial distribution amount will be 1 million doses per week total to all 21 partners, rising as supplies improve.
• Unlike in the upcoming Phase II distribution, vaccine will be direct-shipped by the federal government to selected pharmacies. ABDC is acting as coordinator -- not a distributor -- in the program.
• Distributions will start next week (week of Feb. 8).
• GNP is notifying selected pharmacies and sending additional information on next steps.
• Each selected pharmacy will be limited to 100 doses per week. The 100-dose limit applies to every pharmacy of every partner in this program.

• We have been pressing GNP for weeks to reopen pharmacy enrollment in its Phase II vaccination network, and GNP said it will allow pharmacies to continue to enroll for the Phase I and Phase II programs:
• The CDC allows GNP to submit an updated provider list by the 15^th of each month to allow those providers to participate in distributions for the following calendar month.
• GNP submits its list to the CDC on the 13^th of each month, so newly enrolling pharmacies realistically will not have time to make the Feb. 15 list (unless they are VERY close to satisfying ALL requirements). Pharmacies just starting their enrollment process with GNP now would not be eligible for participation until April.
• GNP has identified the pharmacies that have failed to complete one or more enrollment requirements and will share that list with us. We’ll be reaching out to those pharmacies to educate/motivate them to finish the enrollment process and to offer assistance as we can.