CVS Health announced its community-based strategy to address potential inequities related to COVID-19 vaccine access in vulnerable communities, with a particular focus on Black and Hispanic populations. The strategy includes proactive patient outreach, community-based partnerships and vaccine clinics, and robust, education-focused marketing, all aimed at increasing COVID-19 vaccination rates. There are nearly 10,000 CVS Pharmacy locations nationwide, with almost half located in communities ranked high or very high by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Social Vulnerability Index (SVI). High SVI rank, along with population density and area demographics, are critical factors CVS Health is using to prioritize the CVS Pharmacy locations that are offering appointments for COVID-19 vaccinations. Beginning last week, select CVS Pharmacy locations in 11 states began offering vaccinations to eligible populations as part of the federal pharmacy partnership program. As more supply becomes available, the company will continue to prioritize these measures as it expands to additional states, while increasing the number of stores offering vaccinations. In communities where COVID-19 vaccines are currently available at CVS Pharmacy locations, the company is working to help ensure Black and Hispanic patients have equitable access to appointments. CVS Health will reach out to CVS Pharmacy patients, Aetna members, and CVS Caremark members in vulnerable communities to help them make an appointment and to answer questions or concerns they may have about being vaccinated. Additionally, CVS Health is working with its extensive network of community-based leaders and nonprofit organizations, including free and charitable clinics, faith-based organizations and others, to reach these vulnerable patients and help them make an appointment. The company is also working with these nonprofits to distribute educational information on COVID-19 vaccines and underscore the importance of getting vaccinated. To further increase access to vaccines, the company is planning to use mobile vaccination vans and launch community-based clinics in March and April, working closely with nonprofit organizations including the YMCA. Building on these efforts, CVS Health will also conduct outreach to patients in vulnerable communities over the coming weeks and months with text messages and emails featuring messages from pharmacists to encourage vaccination and address hesitancy. CVS Health has also joined the Ad Council's COVID-19 Vaccine Education Initiative as a Founding Partner. This extensive communications effort will educate the public about the importance of, and work to build confidence in, COVID-19 vaccines with the goal of increasing vaccination uptake, particularly among Black and Hispanic audiences. CVS Health will supplement this collaborative effort with a significant CVS Pharmacy marketing campaign focused on reaching vulnerable communities with educational information. With content available in both English and Spanish, components of the campaign are designed to reach specific audiences, including leveraging CVS Health'srole as a Founding Partner of the Black Information Network.