ACLU Questions CVS’ Collection of COVID Booster Shot Data
Saturday, September 03, 2022
The ACLU of Rhode Island is raising concerns over the data CVS is collecting as part of its COVID booster shot program.
In a letter sent to CVS President Karen Lynch, ACLU of Rhode Island Director Steven Brown questioned the retail pharmacy’s requirement that demographic data — including gender and ethnicity — be provided in order for a person to be eligible for a booster shot.
“While we can appreciate the utility of seeking and obtaining this demographic data, I trust you would agree that it is not in the best interest of public health if even a few people are discouraged from obtaining Covid vaccination because of a request for what is ultimately extraneous information,” wrote Brown.
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When asked for comment, CVS provided the following response.
“We’re committed to providing equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines, regardless of an individual’s sex, gender, race, ethnicity or other characteristics not relevant to current vaccine eligibility requirements,” said Amy Thibault, CVS’ Director for External Communications.
“As a participant in the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program for vaccinations, we’re required to report certain clinical information to the CDC,” Thibault added.
CVS, however, did not respond to the following questions:
Do you require all of the information -- sex, gender, race, ethnicity -- for someone to get a booster shot?
Is it required by the federal government to collect all of this information -- specifically, sex, gender, race, and ethnicity?
Pursuant to these two questions -- if a person does not provide sex, gender, race, or ethnicity information -- are they then not allowed to get a shot?
New Booster Guidance
Thibault provided information on the newly authorized bivalent COVID-19 booster vaccines.
This week, scheduling vaccine boosters at CVS was halted temporarily to accommodate the latest development.
“We plan to offer the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna bivalent COVID-19 booster vaccines once authorized by the CDC and once we have received supply. Following FDA authorization on August 31, the government’s distribution of the bivalent boosters started immediately. We expect our pharmacies to begin to receive supply on a rolling basis over the next few days and appointments will be made available at CVS.com and via the CVS Pharmacy app,” said Thibault. “We continue to provide our communities with convenient access to vaccines at CVS Pharmacy including the approved COVID-19 primary series, as well as flu and a number of other vaccinations, such as pneumonia and shingles.”
“As announced by the FDA [Wednesday’, the emergency use authorization (EUA) of the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines has been updated to remove the use of the original monovalent Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines for booster administration,” said Thibault. “For that reason, patients will need to reschedule appointments for COVID-19 boosters to allow for the administration of the bivalent vaccine, once approved by the CDC and received by our pharmacies. CVS.com and the CVS Pharmacy app will be updated as doses are received.”
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